My World Factbook
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Note: Most information adapted from the popular World Factbook is distributed between the websites GeoWorld (geography, people, communications & transportation), Politix (government) and Great Depression II (economy).
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.
';
$FB_Geog = 'Geography
islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
53 06 S, 72 31 E
Area:
total: 412 sq km
country comparison to the world: 
201
land:
412 sq km
water:
0 sq km
slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
101.9 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
Current Weather
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
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mawson Peak on Big Ben volcano 2,745 m
fish
arable land: 0%
permanent crops:
0%
other:
100% (2005)
0 sq km
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
NA
Mawson Peak on Heard Island is the highest Australian mountain (at 2,745 meters, it is taller than Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia proper), and one of only two active volcanoes located in Australian territory, the other being McDonald Island; in 1992, McDonald Island broke its dormancy and began erupting; it has erupted several times since, the most recent being in 2005
';
$FB_Ppl = 'People
uninhabited
';
$FB_Gov = 'Government
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form:
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
abbreviation:
HIMI
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
the laws of Australia where applicable apply
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
the flag of Australia is used
';
$FB_Econ = 'Economy
The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters.
';
$FB_Comm = 'Communications
.hm
';
$FB_Trans = 'Transportation
none; offshore anchorage only
';
$FB_Mil = 'Military
defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols
';
$FB_Issues = 'Transnational Issues
none
';
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The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
