| Bassas da India (2006) | Heard Island and McDonald Islands (2001) | |
![]()  | ![]()  | |
| Area | total: 0.2 sq km 
 land: 0.2 sq km water: 0 sq km  | 
				total: 
 412 sq km land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km  | 
				
| Area - comparative | about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC | 
| Background | This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of an Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. | 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. | 
| Climate | tropical | antarctic | 
| Coastline | 35.2 km | 101.9 km | 
| Country name | conventional long form: none 
 conventional short form: Bassas da India  | 
				conventional long form: 
 Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands  | 
				
| Dependency status | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories | 
| Diplomatic representation from the US | - | none (territory of Australia) | 
| Diplomatic representation in the US | - | none (territory of Australia) | 
| Disputes - international | claimed by Madagascar | none | 
| Economy - overview | no economic activity | no economic activity | 
| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m 
 highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m  | 
				lowest point: 
 Southern Ocean 0 m highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m  | 
				
| Environment - current issues | NA | NA | 
| Flag description | the flag of France is used | the flag of Australia is used | 
| Geographic coordinates | 21 30 S, 39 50 E | 53 06 S, 72 31 E | 
| Geography - note | the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano | primarily used for research stations | 
| Irrigated land | 0 sq km | 0 sq km (1993) | 
| Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km | 
| Land use | arable land: 0% 
 permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (2005)  | 
				arable land: 
 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%  | 
				
| Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply | 
| Location | Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique | Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica | 
| Map references | Africa | Antarctic Region | 
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm 
 exclusive economic zone: 200 nm  | 
				exclusive fishing zone: 
 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM  | 
				
| Military - note | defense is the responsibility of France | defense is the responsibility of Australia | 
| Natural hazards | maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones | Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano called Big Ben | 
| Natural resources | none | none | 
| Population | uninhabited (July 2006 est.) | uninhabited (July 2001 est.) | 
| Ports and harbors | - | none; offshore anchorage only | 
| Terrain | volcanic rock | Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent volcano; McDonald Islands - small and rocky | 
| Waterways | - | none |