Background: These uninhabited barren 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.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 101.9 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: Heard Island--bleak and mountainous, with an extinct volcano; McDonald Islands--small and rocky

Land use: arable land: 0%; permanent crops: 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

Population: uninhabited

Environment
Current issues: primarily used as research stations

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

Government type: territory of Australia administered by the Antarctic Division of the Department of Science in Canberra (Australia) Heard Island and McDonald Islands Heard Island and McDonald IslandsHeard Island and McDonald Islands

Economy overview: no economic activity