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From: The CIA'sTHE WORLD FACTBOOK 1996

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Heard Island and McDonald Islands

(½" Thumbnail of Flag)
(territory of Australia)

Map

Location: 53 06 S, 72 31 E -- Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica

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Flag

Description: the flag of Australia is used

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Geography

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates: 53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:
total area: 412 sq km
land area: 412 sq km
comparative area: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 101.9 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent volcano; McDonald Islands - small and rocky
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano called Big Ben
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: primarily used for research stations

People

Population: uninhabited

Government

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Data code: HM
Type of government: territory of Australia administered by the Ministry for Environment, Sport, and Territories
Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used

Economy

Economic overview: no economic activity

Transportation

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Defense

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997).