]! ^! 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. 
]" ^" islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica ^# 53 06 S, 72 31 E ^$ Antarctic Region ^% `! 412 sq km `" 412 sq km `# 0 sq km ^& slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC ^' 0 km ^( 101.9 km ^) `$ 12 nm `a 200 nm ^* antarctic ^+ 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 ^, `% Indian Ocean 0 m `& Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m ^- fish ^. `' 0% `( 0% `) 100% (2001) ^/ 0 sq km ^0 Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island ^1 NA 
]# ^3 uninhabited (July 2005 est.) 
]$ ^F `4 Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands `5 Heard Island and McDonald Islands ^G territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment and Heritage ^N the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply ^V none (territory of Australia) ^W none (territory of Australia) ^X the flag of Australia is used 
]% ^Y No indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing around the islands. 
]& _? .hm 
]' _C none; offshore anchorage only 
]( _G defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols 
]) _H none 