Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) are uninhabited, barren islands located in the Southern Ocean at , about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica. They have been part of Australia since 1947, and contain the only two active volcanoes in Australian territory, one of which, Mawson Peak, is the highest Australian mountain. The group's size is 372 km² in area.

Geography

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Heard Island (368 km²) is bleak and mountainous, covered in glaciers and dominated by Mawson Peak, a 2745 metre high volcano which forms part of the Big Ben massif. Heard Island is located at . Mawson Peak is the highest Australian mountain (527m higher than Mount Kosciuszko), and one of only 2 active volcanoes in Australian territory.

The other active volcano in Australian territory is on McDonald Island: after being dormant for 75,000 years, it erupted in 1992 and has erupted again several times since, its most recent eruption being on 10 August 2005.

More on [ Heard Island and McDonald Islands ]

Eco-Photo Explorers - Antarctica, Voyage to the Frozen Continent

Antarctic Expeditions
Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:40:00 -0000
We are often asked what compels us to want to see Antarctica. The answer is simple, Antarctica is nature in its purest state; her power and beauty are at once humbling, confronting and exhilarating. Indeed Antarctica touches the soul like no other place on earth. The pace can be as fast as an ice wall cracking and tumbling into the sea or as slow as an advancing glacier.
Scuba Diving in Antarctica (What Equipment to Bring!)
Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:40:00 -0000
Diving in Antarctica is truly an expedition in itself, every plunge into its icy waters is different than the previous one. There is no such thing as a "better dive location" because each year the ice and weather conditions change, which makes these underwater adventures so unpredictable.
Deception Island: Diving in a Restless Volcano
Sat, 19 May 2007 16:55:00 -0000
Diving beneath the icy waters of Deception Island is like entering an alien environment almost devoid of large marine life. Indeed, the most dominant species seemed to be millions of tiny Amphipods. Examine the fascinating history of this foreboding place and discover the rich diversity of life here. Finally, join the team as they plunge beneath the icy waters into the caldera of this restless volcano on a unique Scuba dive to document life below and above the surface.
Antarctica - Latest News
Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:40:00 -0000
News headlines on Antarctica's Environment.
Antarctica: Crossing the Antarctic Circle (2005 Expedition)
Fri, 18 May 2007 16:55:00 -0000
Eco-Photo Explorers has once again returned from the end of the world. This time our adventure took us further south and through the Antarctic Circle. It has long held a fascination for explorers and adventurers the world over. Here we will describe our journey south to Ushuaia, Argentina and our experience diving in the Beagle Channel. Here, we explored lush kelp forests and observe giant King Crabs. The trip south to Antarctica took us across the turbulent Drake Passage and along the pristine wilderness of the Antarctic Peninsula and through the ice-choked waters below the Antarctic Circle.
Antarctica Peninsula: 2003 Expedition
Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:00:00 -0000
Eco-Photo Explorers has completed probably the most exciting and demanding expedition we have ever undertaken. We have taken our first plunge into the icy waters of Antarctica. We have documented not only the marine life, but the animals that inhabit this forbidden and mysterious region.

New Zealand Herald - Antarctica

Alarm grows over big melt in Antarctica
newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +1200
Antarctica is shrinking more quickly than expected and the pace is increasing, a conference has been told. Professor Peter Barrett of Victoria University's Antarctic Research Centre summarised the latest findings at the Annual...
Antarctic groups joining forces
newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:00:00 +1200
Three research institutions have joined forces to study Antarctica and its influence on the earth. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) yesterday joined the Antarctic Research Institute, founded by Victoria...

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