Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2002) | Heard Island and McDonald Islands (2005) | |
Area | total: 5 sq km
land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island |
total: 412 sq km
land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC |
Background | These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983 it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve. | 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 | tropical | antarctic |
Coastline | 74.1 km | 101.9 km |
Country name | conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands |
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands |
Dependency status | territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services | 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) | none (territory of Australia) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (territory of Australia) | none (territory of Australia) |
Disputes - international | - | none |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | No indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing around the islands. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | the flag of Australia is used | the flag of Australia is used |
Geographic coordinates | 12 14 S, 123 05 E | 53 06 S, 72 31 E |
Geography - note | Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983 | - |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998 est.) | 0 sq km |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) (1998 est.) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001) |
Legal system | the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply |
Location | Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia | islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica |
Map references | Southeast Asia | Antarctic Region |
Maritime claims | contiguous zone: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force | defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols |
Natural hazards | surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards | Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island |
Natural resources | fish | fish |
People - note | the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem | - |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh waster at Ashmore Reef's West Island |
uninhabited (July 2005 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | none; offshore anchorage only |
Terrain | low with sand and coral | 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 |
Waterways | none | - |