Heard Island and McDonald Islands (2007) | Dhekelia (2005) | |
Area | total: 412 sq km
land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 130.8 sq km
note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves |
Area - comparative | slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC | about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC |
Background | 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. | By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers in total: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area. |
Capital | - | Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri |
Climate | antarctic | temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters |
Coastline | 101.9 km | 27.5 km |
Country name | conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands abbreviation: HIMI |
conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form: Dhekelia |
Dependency status | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment and Heritage | overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (territory of Australia) | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (territory of Australia) | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Disputes - international | none | - |
Economy - overview | The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters. | Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m |
- |
Environment - current issues | NA | netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn |
Executive branch | - | chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch |
Flag description | the flag of Australia is used | the flag of the UK is used |
Geographic coordinates | 53 06 S, 72 31 E | 34 59 N, 33 45 E |
Geography - note | - | British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus |
Industries | - | none |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km | - |
Land boundaries | 0 km | total: NA; note - boundary with Cyprus is being resurveyed |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
- |
Languages | - | English, Greek |
Legal system | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply | the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply |
Location | islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica | on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta |
Map references | Antarctic Region | Middle East |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
- |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols | includes Dheklia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway |
Natural hazards | Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island | - |
Natural resources | fish | - |
Population | uninhabited | no indigenous personnel
note: approximately 2,200 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both the bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there |
Terrain | 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 | - |