Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Heard Island and McDonald Islands are an uninhabited Australian external territory in the southern Indian Ocean, about 4,000 kilometres southwest of mainland Australia. The volcanic islands are among the world’s most remote places.

Heard Island: A volcanic island in the southern Indian Ocean and the largest island in the Heard Island and McDonald Islands territory. It holds Big Ben, the territory’s highest mountain and active volcano.
Heard Island volcanoes: Volcanic vents and edifices on Heard Island, including the active Big Ben massif. Eruptions build the island while ice and erosion reshape its slopes.
Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve: A large Australian marine protected area surrounding Heard Island and the McDonald Islands. It extends protection from the islands’ land ecosystems into surrounding waters.
Heard Island and McDonald Islands World Heritage Area: A UNESCO World Heritage property encompassing the islands’ distinctive volcanic and glacial landscapes. Its listing recognizes the islands as a rare example of largely undisturbed natural processes.
McDonald Islands: A small group of volcanic islands west of Heard Island in the southern Indian Ocean. Their recent volcanic activity contrasts with Heard Island’s glaciers and long-studied volcano.
McDonald Island volcano: An active submarine and subaerial volcanic system forming the McDonald Islands. Its eruption-driven growth shows that the smaller islands remain volcanically dynamic.
Australian Antarctic Division: The Australian government agency responsible for Antarctic and subantarctic research and operations. It coordinates scientific programs and management connected with the territory.
World Heritage Convention: An international treaty establishing a system to identify and protect cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value. The convention provides the framework for the territory’s World Heritage listing.
Big Ben (Heard Island): A volcanic massif on Heard Island that rises to Mawson Peak, Australia’s highest mountain outside the mainland. Its summit defines the territory’s most prominent volcanic landscape.
Glaciation: The formation and movement of glaciers as snow accumulates and compacts into ice. Glaciers cover much of Heard Island and respond to its volcanic terrain and climate.

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