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Antarctica :: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
(territory of Australia)
page last updated on April 7, 2010
Flag of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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Map of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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Photos of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
 
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of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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Introduction ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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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.
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Geography ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
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53 06 S, 72 31 E
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Antarctic Region
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total: 412 sq km
country comparison to the world: 201
land: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
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0 km
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101.9 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
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Current Weather
antarctic
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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
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben volcano 2,745 m
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fish
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
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0 sq km
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Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
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NA
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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
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People ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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uninhabited
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Government ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
abbreviation: HIMI
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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
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the laws of Australia where applicable apply
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none (territory of Australia)
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none (territory of Australia)
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the flag of Australia is used
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Economy ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters.
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Communications ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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.hm
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Transportation ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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none; offshore anchorage only
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Military ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols
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Transnational Issues ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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none
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The online Factbook is updated bi-weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.