Top banner
The World Factbook Banner

         
  Heard Island and McDonald Islands  
Flag of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Click to enlarge
Categories Banner
  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January, 2004
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2004.


This page was last updated on 27 January, 2005


Map of Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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
Location:
Definition Field Listing
islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Antarctic Region
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 412 sq km
land: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
101.9 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
antarctic
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
fish
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
   People    Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
uninhabited (July 2004 est.)
   Government    Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment and Heritage
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
the flag of Australia is used
   Economy    Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
No indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing around the islands.
   Communications    Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.hm
   Transportation    Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none; offshore anchorage only
   Military    Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols
   Transnational Issues    Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 27 January, 2005


Bottom Banner