NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica |
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Geographic coordinates:
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53 06 S, 72 31 E |
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Map references:
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Antarctic Region |
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Area:
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total: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 412 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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101.9 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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antarctic |
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Terrain:
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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 |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Southern Ocean 0 m
highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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uninhabited (July 2002 est.) |