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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 land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: | 0 km
Coastline: | 101.9 km
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 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% (2005)
Irrigated land: | 0 sq km
Natural hazards: | Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Environment - current issues: | NA
Geography - note: | Mawson Peak on Heard Island is the highest Australian mountain (at 2,745 meters, it is taller than Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia proper), and one of only two active volcanoes located in Australian territory, the other being McDonald Island; in 1992, McDonald Island broke its dormancy and began erupting; it has erupted several times since, the most recent being in 2005

People | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Population: | uninhabited

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 abbreviation: HIMI
Dependency status: | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
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: | The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters.

Communications | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Internet country code: | .hm

Transportation | Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Ports and terminals: | 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, 2008