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| Heard Island and McDonald Islands |

Introduction | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Background: | These uninhabited, barren, sub-Antarctic islands were transferred from the UK to Australia in 1947. Populated by large numbers of seal and bird species, the islands have been designated a nature preserve.

Geography | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Location: | islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates: | 53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references: | Antarctic Region
Area: | total: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 412 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: | 0 km
Coastline: | 101.9 km
Maritime claims: | exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: | antarctic
Terrain: | Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated by a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak); McDonald Islands - small and rocky
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m
Natural resources: | fish
Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Environment - current issues: | NA

People | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Population: | uninhabited (July 2003 est.)

Government | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Country name: | conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Dependency status: | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment and Heritage
Legal system: | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (territory of Australia)
Flag description: | the flag of Australia is used

Economy | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Economy - overview: | No indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing around the islands.

Communications | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Internet country code: | .hm

Transportation | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Waterways: | none
Ports and harbors: | none; offshore anchorage only

Military | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols

Transnational Issues | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Disputes - international: | none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003