Heard and Mc Donald Islands Online Business Education. Administration. Economy. Politics. Culture. Religion. Media

Heard and Mc Donald Islands
Online Business Education. Economy. Politics. Culture. Religion. Media

Heard and McDonald Islands

Introduction

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

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

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: 12 NM

Climate: antarctic

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

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island

Environment - current issues: NA

People Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Population: uninhabited (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate: NA

Government Heard Island and McDonald 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 Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment
and Heritage

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

Economy Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Economy - overview: No indigenous economic activity, but the Australian
Government allows limited fishing around the islands.

Communications Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Internet country code: .hm

Transportation Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Waterways: none

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Military Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia
conducts fisheries patrols

Transnational Issues Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002