Heard and McDonald Islands
Heard Island and McDonald Islands are located in the
Southern Ocean, approximately 1,700 km from the Antarctic continent and
4,100 km south-west of Perth. As the only volcanically active
subantarctic islands they โopen a window into the earthโ, thus providing
the opportunity to observe ongoing geomorphic processes and glacial
dynamics. The distinctive conservation value of Heard and McDonald โ one
of the worldโs rare pristine island ecosystems โ lies in the complete
absence of alien plants and animals, as well as human impact.