Bouvet Island (2003) | Heard Island and McDonald Islands (2008) | |
Area | total: 58.5 sq km
land: 58.5 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 412 sq km
land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC | slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC |
Background | This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island. | 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 | antarctic |
Coastline | 29.6 km | 101.9 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island |
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands abbreviation: HIMI |
Dependency status | territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts |
Diplomatic representation from the US | - | none (territory of Australia) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | - | none (territory of Australia) |
Disputes - international | none | none |
Economy - overview | no economic activity; declared a nature reserve | The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 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 Norway is used | the flag of Australia is used |
Geographic coordinates | 54 26 S, 3 24 E | 53 06 S, 72 31 E |
Geography - note | covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve | - |
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% (93% ice) (1998 est.) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Legal system | the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply |
Location | island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) | islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica |
Map references | Antarctic Region | Antarctic Region |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 4 NM | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Norway | defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols |
Natural hazards | NA | Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island |
Natural resources | none | fish |
Population | uninhabited (July 2003 est.) | uninhabited |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | - |
Terrain | volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible | 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 | - |