Location Southern Africa, 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
water: 0 sq km
land: 412 sq km

Area - comparative slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 101.9 km

Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: Southern Ocean 0 m
highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m

Natural resources fish

Land use
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island

Environment - current issues NA

NOTE: The information regarding Heard Island and McDonald Islands on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Heard Island and McDonald Islands Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.