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
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
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
