HEARD ISLAND AND MCDONALD ISLANDS (territory of Australia) GEOGRAPHY Total area: 412 km2; land area: 412 km2 Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 101.9 km Maritime claims: Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: antarctic Terrain: Heard Island--bleak and mountainous, with an extinct volcano; McDonald Islands--small and rocky Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100% Environment: primarily used as research stations Note: located 4,100 km southwest of Australia in the southern Indian Ocean PEOPLE Population: uninhabited GOVERNMENT Long-form name: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Type: territory of Australia administered by the Antarctic Division of the Department of Science in Canberra (Australia) ECONOMY Overview: no economic activity COMMUNICATIONS Ports: none; offshore anchorage only DEFENSE FORCES Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia