Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands

(territory of Australia)

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Geography

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 sq km land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area-comparative: slightly more than 2 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: Indian 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 sq km (1993)

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

Environment-current issues: NA

Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography-note: primarily used for research stations

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:People

Population: uninhabited

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Government

Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Data code: HM

Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories

Legal system: NA

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

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Economy

Economy-overview: no economic activity

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Transportation

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Military

Military-note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Transnational Issues

Disputes-international: none