Heard Island and McDonald Islands
The Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI; ISO 3166 region code: HMD, HM, 334;) is an Australian external territory comprising a volcanic group of mostly barren Antarctic islands, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica. The group's overall area is 372 km2 (144 sq mi) and it has 101.9 km (63 mi) of coastline. Discovered in the mid-19th century, the islands lie on the Kerguelen Plateau in the Indian Ocean and have been an Australian territory since 1947.
A southwesterly view of Heard Island in 2009. Flag of Australia (used for Heard Island and the McDonald Islands) | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Indian Ocean |
| Major islands | 2 |
| Area | 368 km2 (142 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 2,745 m (9006 ft) |
| Highest point | Mawson Peak |
| Administration | |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Criteria | Natural: viii, ix |
| Reference | 577 |
| Inscription | 1997 (21st Session) |
| Area | 658,903 ha (2544 sq. mi.) |
They contain Australia's only two active volcanoes. The summit of one, Mawson Peak, is higher than any mountain in all other Australian states or territories, except Dome Argus, Mount McClintock and Mount Menzies in the Australian Antarctic Territory.
The islands are among the most remote places on Earth: They are located about 4,100 kilometres (2,200 nautical miles) southwest of Perth, 3,850 km (2,080 nmi) southwest of Cape Leeuwin, Australia, 4,200 km (2,300 nmi) southeast of South Africa, 3,830 km (2,070 nmi) southeast of Madagascar, 1,630 km (880 nmi) north of Antarctica, and 450 km (240 nmi) southeast of the Kerguelen Islands (part of French Southern and Antarctic Lands).
The islands, which are uninhabited, can be reached only by sea, which from Australia takes two weeks in the vessels normally used to access them.