Heard Island and McDonald Islands (2001) | Bouvet Island (2008) | |
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Area | total:
412 sq km land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 49 sq km
land: 49 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC | about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC |
Background | 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. | 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, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since 1977, it has run an automated meteorological station on the island. |
Climate | antarctic | antarctic |
Coastline | 101.9 km | 29.6 km |
Country name | conventional long form:
Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island |
Dependency status | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories | territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo |
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 | no economic activity; declared a nature reserve |
Elevation extremes | lowest point:
Southern Ocean 0 m highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m |
lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | the flag of Australia is used | the flag of Norway is used |
Geographic coordinates | 53 06 S, 72 31 E | 54 26 S, 3 24 E |
Geography - note | primarily used for research stations | covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1993) | 0 sq km |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (93% ice) (2005) |
Legal system | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply | the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply |
Location | Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica | island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) |
Map references | Antarctic Region | Antarctic Region |
Maritime claims | exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM |
territorial sea: 4 nm |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Australia | defense is the responsibility of Norway |
Natural hazards | Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano called Big Ben | NA |
Natural resources | none | none |
Population | uninhabited (July 2001 est.) | uninhabited |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | - |
Terrain | Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent volcano; McDonald Islands - small and rocky | volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible |
Waterways | none | - |