ARCHIVE // HM // 2008

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

2008 Edition — territory

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
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Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.hm
Economy
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters.
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 412 sq km land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
antarctic
Coastline [time series]
101.9 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
53 06 S, 72 31 E
Geography - note [time series]
Mawson Peak on Heard Island is the highest Australian mountain (at 2,745 meters, it is taller than Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia proper), and one of only two active volcanoes located in Australian territory, the other being McDonald Island; in 1992, McDonald Island broke its dormancy and began erupting; it has erupted several times since, the most recent being in 2005
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Location [time series]
islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
Map references [time series]
Antarctic Region
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Natural resources [time series]
fish
Terrain [time series]
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
Government
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands abbreviation: HIMI
Dependency status [time series]
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of Australia is used
Legal system [time series]
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols
People
Population [time series]
uninhabited
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only