Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Heard Island and McDonald Islands are a remote Australian external territory in the Southern Ocean. Discovered in the mid-19th century, these volcanic islands remained largely unexplored for decades. Australia formally claimed the islands in 1947, administering them through the Australian Antarctic Division. The islands are characterized by harsh conditions and are home to Australia’s only two active volcanoes. Due to their remoteness and challenging environment, the islands remain uninhabited by a permanent population.