ocr: HEARD & MACDONALD ISLANDS Status: Australian external territory Claimed: 1947 Capital: None Population: None - SITUATED - - 2,480 MILES SUUTHWEST of Australia in the Indian Ucean, the Heard and Macdonald Islands are ice-covered, volcanic rock outcrops. Their principal use is for scientific research. Because ofHeard Island's unique location - it offers direct access to the world's main oceans -it was choseni in 1991 as the site of an experiment to monitor global warming using soundwaves.
