Heard Island and McDonald Islands Geography:
Location:
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:
Area:
total:
412 sq km
land:
412 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 0 km
border countries: NA
Coastline:
101 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
Climate:
Antarctic
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak 2,745 m on Big Ben
Natural resources:
Fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100%
(2001)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - Note:
NA |
