Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

 
Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
World Factbook Title
navigation arrows
View Text Low Bandwidth Version Download Publication
Antarctica :: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
(territory of Australia)
page last updated on November 15, 2012
Flag of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Click flag or map to enlarge Opens in New Window
 
Map of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Click map to enlarge Opens in New Window
Photos of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
 
Navigation Arrow view 1 photo Opens in New Window
of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Expand All | collapse All
Introduction ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
The United Kingdom transferred these uninhabited, barren, sub-Antarctic islands to Australia in 1947. Populated by large numbers of seal and bird species, the islands have been designated a nature preserve.
Back to Top
Geography ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
53 06 S, 72 31 E
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 412 sq km
country comparison to the world: 203
land: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
101.9 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
antarctic
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak on Big Ben volcano 2,745 m
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
fish
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 sq km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Back to Top
People and Society ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
uninhabited
Back to Top
Government ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
abbreviation: HIMI
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of Australia)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of Australia)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
the flag of Australia is used
Back to Top
Economy ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters.
Back to Top
Communications ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
.hm
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
102 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 209
Back to Top
Transportation ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none; offshore anchorage only
Back to Top
Military ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols
Back to Top
Transnational Issues ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Back to Top
Expand All | collapse All
  The online Factbook is updated weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.