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Location:
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islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
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Geographic coordinates:
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53 06 S, 72 31 E
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Map references:
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antarctic region
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Area:
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total: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 412 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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101.9 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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antarctic
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Terrain:
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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
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m
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Natural resources:
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fish
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
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Environment - current issues:
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NA
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