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| 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% (2001) |
Irrigated land: | 0 sq km |
Natural hazards: | Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island |
Environment - current issues: | NA |
| People | Heard Island and McDonald Islands | |
Population: | uninhabited (July 2005 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 | |
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 9 August, 2005 | -.-.- |
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