Map of Heard Island and McDonald Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: American sailor John HEARD discovered Heard Island in 1853 while fellow American William MCDONALD discovered the McDonald Islands the following year. Starting in 1855, sealers lived on the islands and harvested elephant seal oil; by the time the practice was ended in 1877, most of the islands’ seals were killed. The UK formally claimed the islands in 1910, and Australian explorer Douglas MAWSON visited Heard Island in 1929. In 1947, the UK transferred the islands to Australia for its Antarctica research, but Australia closed the research station on Heard Island in 1954 when it opened a new research station on the Antarctic continent. McDonald Island has been an active volcano since it emerged from dormancy in 1992, and the island doubled in size after an eruption in 1996. In 1997, the islands were named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Populated by a large number of bird species, seals, and penguins, the islands are primarily used for research, with limited fishing permitted in the surrounding waters.


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

Geographic coordinates: 53 06 S, 72 31 E

Map reference: Antarctic Region

Area
Total: 412 km²
Land: 412 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Country comparison total: 0 km

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 101.9 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 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
Highest point: Mawson Peak on Big Ben volcano 2,745 m
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
Agricultural land other: 100% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

Geography
Note: 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, most recently in 2005


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Population
Total: uninhabited

Nationality

Ethnic groups

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Demographic profile

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Dependency ratios

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Urbanization

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Environment
Current issues: none; uninhabited and mostly ice covered

Air pollutants

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School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands; abbreviation: HIMI
Etymology: named after American Captain John HEARD, who sighted the island on 25 November 1853, and American Captain William McDONALD, who discovered the islands on 4 January 1854

Government type

Capital

Administrative divisions

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system: the laws of Australia apply where applicable

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch

Legislative branch

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of Australia)
From the us embassy: none (territory of Australia)

Flag description: the flag of Australia is used

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 1 (natural)
Note: excerpted from the Australia entry
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

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Electricity

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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

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Military expenditures

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Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

Heliports: 2 (2024)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: NA