Pray for Amsterdam Island

Amsterdam Island is an island in the southern Indian Ocean.
It is located north of Antarctica and southeast of southern Africa.

Its closest neighbor is Saint Paul Island 53 miles to the south.

The island is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands Territory:
Adélie Land        (Antarctica)
Amsterdam Island   (South Indian Ocean)
Crozet Islands     (South Indian Ocean)
Kerguelen Islands  (Southern Ocean)
Saint Paul Island  (Indian Ocean)
Scattered Islands  (Around the coast of Madagascar)

The Martin-de-Viviès research station is the capital and only settlement.

The island has about 30 non-permanent inhabitants who perform research.

HISTORY
The island was discovered by the Basque Spanish explorer Juan Sebastián Elcano in 1522.

The Dutch Captain Anthonie van Diemen named the island Nieuw Amsterdam after his ship
in 1633.

The first recorded landing was made in 1696 by Dutchman Willem de Vlamingh.

Whalers and sealers frequently visited the island.

In 1871 an attempt to settle the island was made by settlers from Réunion Island.
After seven months they returned to Réunion and abandoned their cattle.

Both Amsterdam and Saint Paul Island were first claimed for France in 1843.
France took formal control in 1892.
The islands were attached to Madagascar in 1924 and became a French colony.

A French base was established in 1949, and was originally called Camp Heurtin.

CONDITIONS
Amsterdam and Saint Paul Island, are both considered by some Mauritian parties
as a national territory.

The scientists who work on the island perform biological, meteorological
and geomagnetic research.

The Global Atmosphere Watch still maintains a presence on Amsterdam.

The island is home to several species of rare birds:
The Amsterdam albatross,
The great skua
The Antarctic tern
The  western rockhopper penguin.

There are no native land mammals although introduced mammals such as
the  house mouse and brown rat and  Feral cats are present.

Amsterdam Island cattle, inhabited the island from 1871-2010.
They were eradicated between 2008-2010 after it was determined they were
damaging the island’s ecosystems.

SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS
France is highly secularized and most of citizens have had no meaningful
contact with dynamic Christian faith.

PRAYER NEEDS
Pray that the environment be protected.

Pray for the protection of the scientists who work there.  

Pray that all of those who live/visit there be exposed to the Gospel.