Europa Island (2001) | Heard Island and McDonald Islands (2001) | |
Airports | 1 (2000 est.) | - |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total:
1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
- |
Area | total:
28 sq km land: 28 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total:
412 sq km land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC | slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC |
Background | A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station. | 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 | 22.2 km | 101.9 km |
Country name | conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa |
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 a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion | 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 24 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 | 22 20 S, 40 22 E | 53 06 S, 72 31 E |
Geography - note | wildlife sanctuary | primarily used for research stations |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1993) | 0 sq km (1993) |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 100% other: 0% |
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, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern 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 | exclusive economic zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 12 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 | NA | Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano called Big Ben |
Natural resources | NEGL | none |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison (July 2001 est.) |
uninhabited (July 2001 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | none; offshore anchorage only |
Terrain | low and flat | Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent volcano; McDonald Islands - small and rocky |
Waterways | none | none |