Country List | World Factbook Home
CIA Seal  World Factbook Seal Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Flag of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Map of 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
water: 0 sq km
land: 412 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
101.9 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Environment - current issues:
NA
People Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Population:
uninhabited (July 2004 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
Waterways:
none
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 11 May, 2004