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  Heard Island and McDonald Islands
(territory of Australia)
 
Flag of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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This page was last updated on 14 May 2009


Map of Heard Island and McDonald Islands




Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order

   Introduction    Heard Island and McDonald Islands Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates:
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53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references:
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Antarctic Region
Area:
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total: 412 sq km
land: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
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slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
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0 km
Coastline:
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101.9 km
Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
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antarctic
Terrain:
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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:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m
Natural resources:
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fish
Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
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0 sq km
Natural hazards:
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Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Environment - current issues:
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NA
Geography - note:
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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 Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
uninhabited
   Government    Heard Island and McDonald Islands Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
abbreviation: HIMI
Dependency status:
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territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Legal system:
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the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:
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the flag of Australia is used
   Economy    Heard Island and McDonald Islands Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters.
   Communications    Heard Island and McDonald Islands Top of Page
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.hm
   Transportation    Heard Island and McDonald Islands Top of Page
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
none; offshore anchorage only
   Military    Heard Island and McDonald Islands Top of Page
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols
   Transnational Issues    Heard Island and McDonald Islands Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 14 May 2009


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