countries/HM

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

territoryFIPS: HM|Edition: 1997|29 fields

ECONOMY(1 fields)

Economy - overview

no economic activity

GEOGRAPHY(18 fields)

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

Climate

antarctic

Coastline

101.9 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geographic coordinates

53 06 S, 72 31 E

Geography - note

primarily used for research stations

Irrigated land

0 sq km (1993)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica

Map references

Antarctic Region

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards

Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano called Big Ben

Natural resources

none

Terrain

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

GOVERNMENT(6 fields)

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 by the Ministry for Sport, Territories, and Local Government

Flag description

the flag of Australia is used

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

National capital

none; administered from Canberra, Australia

MILITARY(1 fields)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

PEOPLE(1 fields)

Population

uninhabited

TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)

Disputes - international

none HOLY SEE (VATICAN CITY)

TRANSPORTATION(1 fields)

Ports and harbors

none; offshore anchorage only