Heard Island and McDonald Islands (territory of Australia) Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

§1. Heard Island and McDonald Introduction Islands

Background:
  These uninhabited, barren 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 Geography Islands

Location:
  Southern Africa, 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:
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM

Climate:
  antarctic

Terrain:
  Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent volcano; McDonald
  Islands - small and rocky

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Southern Ocean 0 m highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m

Natural resources:
  none

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Irrigated land:
  0 kmē (1993)

Natural hazards:
  Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano called Big Ben

Environment - current issues:
  NA

Geography - note:
  primarily used for research stations

§3. Heard Island and McDonald People Islands

Population:
  uninhabited (July 2001 est.)

§4. Heard Island and McDonald Government 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 Department of the
  Environment, Sport, and Territories

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 Economy Islands

Economy - overview:
  no economic activity

§6. Heard Island and McDonald Communications Islands

Internet country code:
  .hm

§7. Heard Island and McDonald Transportation Islands

Waterways:
  none

Ports and harbors:
  none; offshore anchorage only

§8. Heard Island and McDonald Military Islands

Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of Australia

§9. Heard Island and McDonald Transnational Issues Islands

Disputes - international:
  none
