1,523,378
(2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 47,139
(2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues Hong Kong
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces serious
challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to
regional and world markets; money laundering center; rising indigenous
use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Introduction Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Background: 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.
Geography Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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
People Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Population: uninhabited (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate: NA
Government Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and
McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald
Islands
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra
by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of th
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