 | |
| Geography |
| Mawson Peak on Heard Island is the highest Australian mountain (at 2,745 meters, it is taller than Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia proper), and one of only two active volcanoes located in Australian territory, the other being McDonald Island; in 1992, McDonald Island broke its dormancy and began erupting; it has erupted several times since, the most recent being in 2005 |
| Location: | islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica |
| Geographic coordinates: | 53 06 S, 72 31 E |
| Area: | total: 412 sq km land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km
Size comparison: 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 volcano 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 |
| Current Environment Issues: | NA |
| ^Back to Top |
| People |
| Population: | uninhabited |
| Age structure: | |
| Median age: | |
| Population growth rate: | |
| Birth rate: | |
| Death rate: | |
| Net migration rate: | |
| Sex ratio: | |
| Infant mortality rate: | |
| Life expectancy at birth: | |
| Total fertility rate: | |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | |
| Nationality: | |
| Ethnic groups: | |
| Religions: | |
| Languages: | |
| Literacy: | |
| ^Back to Top |
| Government |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands abbreviation: HIMI |
| Government type: | |
| Capital: | |
| Administrative divisions: | |
| Independence: | |
| National holiday: | |
| Constitution: | |
| Legal system: | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply |
| Suffrage: | |
| Executive branch: | |
| Legislative branch: | |
| Judicial branch: | |
| Political parties and leaders: | |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | |
| International organization participation: | |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (territory of Australia) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (territory of Australia) |
| ^Back to Top |
| Economy |
| The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters. Visits to Heard Island typically focus on terrestrial and marine research and infrequent private expeditions. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | |
| GDP - real growth rate: | |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | |
| GDP - composition by sector: | |
| Labor force: | |
| Labor force - by occupation: | |
| Unemployment rate: | |
| Population below poverty line: | |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | |
| Budget: | |
| Agriculture - products: | |
| Industries: | |
| Industrial production growth rate: | |
| Exports: | |
| Exports - commodities: | |
| Imports: | |
| Imports - commodities: | |
| Debt - external: | |
| Exchange rates: | |
| ^Back to Top |
| Communications |
| Telephones in use: | |
| Cellular Phones in use: | |
| Telephone system: | |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .hm |
| Internet hosts: | 102 (2012) |
| Internet users: | |
| ^Back to Top |
| Transportation |
| Roadways: | |
| Ports and terminals: | none; offshore anchorage only |
| ^Back to Top |
| Military |
| Defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols |
| ^Back to Top |