Heard Island and McDonald Islands (2007) | Paracel Islands (2001) | |
Airports | - | 1 (2000 est.) |
Airports - with paved runways | - | total:
1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
Area | total: 412 sq km
land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total:
NA sq km land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC | NA |
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. | This archipelago is surrounded by productive fishing grounds and potentially large oil reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Prattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops captured a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. However, the islands are still claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. |
Climate | antarctic | tropical |
Coastline | 101.9 km | 518 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:
none conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
Dependency status | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment and Heritage | - |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (territory of Australia) | - |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (territory of Australia) | - |
Disputes - international | none | occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam |
Economy - overview | The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters. | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m |
lowest point:
South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | the flag of Australia is used | - |
Geographic coordinates | 53 06 S, 72 31 E | 16 30 N, 112 00 E |
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% (2005) |
arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% |
Legal system | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply | - |
Location | islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica | Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines |
Map references | Antarctic Region | Southeast Asia |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
NA |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols | occupied by China |
Natural hazards | Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island | typhoons |
Natural resources | fish | none |
Population | uninhabited | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2001 est.) |
Ports and harbors | - | small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded |
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 | mostly low and flat |
Waterways | - | none |