Geography of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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: | Antarctic Region |
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: | 0 km |
Coastline: | 101.9 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, on Big Ben 2,745 m |
Natural resources: | fish |
Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | 0 sq km |
Natural hazards: | Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island |
Environment - current issues: | NA |