Heard Island and McDonald Islands

§1. Heard Island and McDonald Islands Introduction

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.

§2. Heard Island and McDonald Islands Geography

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 kmē
  land: 412 kmē
  water: 0 kmē

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 kmē

Natural hazards:
  Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island

Environment - current issues:
  NA

§3. Heard Island and McDonald Islands People

Population:
  uninhabited (July 2006 est.)

§4. Heard Island and McDonald Islands Government

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

§5. Heard Island and McDonald Islands Economy

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

§6. Heard Island and McDonald Islands Communications

Internet country code:
  .hm

§7. Heard Island and McDonald Islands Transportation

Ports and terminals:
  none; offshore anchorage only

§8. Heard Island and McDonald Islands Military

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

§9. Heard Island and McDonald Islands Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  none


<Factbook 2006>
