Why are Heard Island and McDonald Islands isolated?

However, the site’s isolation assists in reducing anthropogenic impacts upon the site’s values. Heard Island and McDonald Islands are located in the Southern Ocean, approximately 1,700 km from the Antarctic continent and 4,100 km south-west of Perth.

Where are Heard Island and McDonald Islands located?

The islands are a territory (Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands) of Australia administered from Hobart by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Is there a threat to Heard Island and the McDonald Islands?

Ongoing and accelerating climate change poses an increasing risk of fundamental alterations in biodiversity. Geological processes (primarily volcanism and glacial retreat) continue undisturbed. The overall assessment is that there is a low threat to the World Heritage values of Heard Island and the McDonald Islands if visitation remains low.

How big is Heard Island & McDonald Islands?

The group's overall land area is 372 km 2 (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. Heard Island and McDonald Islands contain Australia's only two active volcanoes.

Does Heard Island have a harbour?

Heard Island and the McDonald Islands have no ports or harbours; ships must anchor offshore. The coastline is 101.9 km (63.3 mi) in extent, and a 12 nmi (22 km) territorial sea and 200 nmi (370 km) exclusive fishing zone are claimed. [ 2 ]

How big is Heard Island?

Heard Island, by far the largest of the group, is a 368-square-kilometre (142 sq mi) mountainous island covered by 41 glaciers [ 22 ] (the island is 80% covered with ice [ 2 ]) and dominated by the Big Ben massif.