Largest energy storage Heard and McDonald Islands

Where are Heard Island and McDonald Islands located?

Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) are a remote subantarctic island group located about 4,000 km south-west of Western Australia and approximately 1,700 km from the Antarctic continent. The HIMI exclusive economic zone (EEZ) abuts the French EEZ around the Kerguelen Islands.

Why is the Heard & McDonald Islands important?

It is the biggest contribution to ocean conservation anywhere on the planet this year. The Heard and McDonald Islands marine reserve will quadruple in size, an increase of almost 310,000 km2 – an area larger than Italy – and will provide greater protections for an environment unlike anywhere else in the world.

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.

Where are the McDonald Islands located?

The much smaller and rocky McDonald Islands are located 44 kilometres (27 mi) to the west of Heard Island. They consist of McDonald Island (186 m or 610 ft high), Flat Island (55 m or 180 ft high) and Meyer Rock (170 m or 560 ft high).

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.