UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice Booklet: Pragati Notebooks – Spiral and Detachable sheets Click Here to know more and order
News: The Heard and McDonald Islands have been in the news due to their unexpected inclusion in the list of trade partners subject to the 10% baseline tariff imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI)
About Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI)
- They are situated in the southwest Indian Ocean, southwest of Perth (Australia).
- These islands are an Australian territory, transferred from the United Kingdom in 1947.
- The islands lie within the ‘Furious 50s,’ a region of the Southern Ocean known for its persistently strong and harsh winds.
- Geographical Features:
- The McDonald Islands are small and rocky.
- Heard Island is much larger, with 80% of its surface covered in ice.
- Heard Island features Big Ben, a massive mountain range, with Mawson Peak as its highest point and an active volcano.
- Wildlife: The islands support large breeding populations of elephant seals, fur seals, petrels, albatrosses, and penguins.
- Heard Island is home to endemic species, including the Heard Island Cormorant and a subspecies of sheathbill known as the Heard Island Sheathbill.
Discover more from Free UPSC IAS Preparation Syllabus and Materials For Aspirants
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
