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  Heard Island and McDonald Islands  
Flag of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


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
water: 0 sq km
land: 412 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
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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% (1998 est.)
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 2003 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
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
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 18 December, 2003


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