Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Population
Uninhabited
Average Monthly Net Salary (USD)
N/A
Average Mortgage Rate
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Annual GDP (USD)
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National Debt (USD)
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Unemployment Rate
N/A
Armed Forces (active & reserve)
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Military Expenditure (% GDP)
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Fertility Rate
N/A
Life Expectancy at birth
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Population Growth
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Net Migration
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Notable Facts
Heard Island and the McDonald Islands constitute a subantarctic island group located in the Southern Ocean, approximately 4,000 kilometers southwest of Western Australia and 1,500 kilometers north of Antarctica. The islands are an external territory of Australia, administered by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The group consists of Heard Island, which is the largest, and the much smaller McDonald Islands located about 44 kilometers to the west. This territory is one of the most remote places on Earth, situated within the "Furious Fifties" latitudes, which are characterized by persistent and powerful westerly winds and heavy seas.
The physical geography of Heard Island is dominated by Big Ben, a massive active stratovolcano that rises to a height of 2,745 meters at its peak, known as Mawson Peak. This peak is the highest point in any Australian state or territory outside of the Australian Antarctic Territory. Big Ben is roughly circular in shape with a diameter of approximately 20 kilometers. Its upper slopes are almost entirely covered by a permanent mantle of ice and snow, which feeds several large glaciers that descend to the sea. The volcanic activity of Big Ben is intermittent, with occasional plumes of steam and ash, making it one of only two active volcanoes in Australian territory.
The McDonald Islands are significantly smaller than Heard Island and consist of McDonald Island, Flat Island, and Meyer Rock. These islands are the result of relatively recent volcanic activity and have undergone dramatic topographical changes in the last few decades. Satellite imagery and rare maritime observations have confirmed that the main island doubled in size between 1980 and 2005 due to volcanic eruptions that joined previously separate islets. The terrain is exceptionally rugged, consisting of steep tuff cones and lava domes. Because of their sheer cliffs and constant volcanic instability, the McDonald Islands are almost entirely inaccessible to human landings.