Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Did you know?

• 🌊An Australian external territory in the southern Indian Ocean. It is one of the most remote, wild, and rugged volcanic archipelagos on the planet, strictly protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• 🏳️Heard Island and McDonald Islands do not have a unique official flag of their own. As a territory of Australia, the national flag of Australia is used officially. The Union Jack in the canton symbolizes Australia's historical ties to the United Kingdom. The Commonwealth Star — a large seven-pointed star beneath the Union Jack — has six points representing the states of Australia and a seventh representing its territories (including remote islands like these). The five stars of the Southern Cross constellation on the right represent the prominent constellation visible in the Southern Hemisphere, serving as a navigational aid and regional symbol.
• 🌋Australia's only active volcano: Heard Island is home to Big Ben, a massive active volcano whose summit, Mawson Peak (2,745 m / 9,006 ft), is the highest point in all Australian territory — higher than Mount Kosciuszko on the mainland.
• 🚫A strictly protected forbidden zone: The islands have never had permanent human habitation, nor any introduced invasive species. To preserve their pristine ecosystem, access is restricted strictly to permitted scientific research expeditions.
• 🧊The growing McDonald Island: While most small islands erode over time, McDonald Island doubled in size and elevation in the late 20th century due to active underwater volcanic eruptions.