Big Ben (Heard Island)

Big Ben
Satellite image of the southern tip of Heard Island. Cape Arkona is seen on the left side of the image, with Lied Glacier just above and Gotley Glacier just below. Big Ben and Mawson Peak are seen at the lower right side of the image.
Highest point
Elevation	2,745 m (9,006 ft)[1]
Prominence	2,745 m (9,006 ft)[1]
Listing	Country high point Ultra
Coordinates	53°06′00″S 73°31′00″E / 53.10000°S 73.51667°E / -53.10000; 73.51667[1]
Geography
Location of Big Ben
Location	Heard Island, Australia
Topo map	RAN Heard Island 291
Geology
Rock age	Quaternary
Mountain type	Stratovolcano
Last eruption	2012 – ongoing (as of 2021)[2]

Big Ben (previously known as Big Ben Peak, Old Ben Mountain, Emperor William Peak and Kaiser Wilhelm-Berg)^[1] is a volcanic massif that dominates the geography of Heard Island in the southern Indian Ocean. It is a stratovolcano with a diameter of about 25 km (16 mi). Its highest point is Mawson Peak, which is 2,745 m (9,006 ft) above sea level. Much of it is covered by ice, including 14 major glaciers which descend from Big Ben to the sea. Big Ben is the highest mountain in Australian states and territories, except for the Australian Antarctic Territory.^[3] The Australian Antarctic Territory is a territorial claim unrecognised by most other countries,^[4] meaning that Big Ben is the highest mountain over which Australia has true sovereignty. A smaller volcanic headland, the Laurens Peninsula, extends about 10 km (6 mi) to the northwest, created by a separate volcano, Mount Dixon; its highest point is Anzac Peak, at 715 m (2,346 ft).