group of French islands in the S Indian Ocean, consisting of one large island & over 200 small ones: 2,786 sq mi (7,216 sq km)
See Kerguelen Islands in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(kûrˈgə-lən, -lĕnˌ)
A French-administered island group in the southern Indian Ocean southeast of South Africa. The largest island, Kerguelen, was discovered by a French navigator in 1772 and is used mainly as a research station.