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| Area | total: 412 sq km
land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC |
| 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. |
| Climate | antarctic |
| Coastline | 101.9 km |
| 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 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | none (territory of Australia) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | none (territory of Australia) |
| Disputes - international | none |
| Economy - overview | No indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing around the islands. |
| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m |
| Environment - current issues | NA |
| Flag description | the flag of Australia is used |
| Geographic coordinates | 53 06 S, 72 31 E |
| Irrigated land | 0 sq km |
| Land boundaries | 0 km |
| Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001) |
| Legal system | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply |
| Location | islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica |
| Map references | Antarctic Region |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
| Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols |
| Natural hazards | Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island |
| Natural resources | fish |
| Population | uninhabited (July 2005 est.) |
| Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only |
| 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 |