australia:wa:carnarvon
the Carnarvon / Gascoyne region of WA
Introduction
- The Gascoyne has the lowest population of any region of Western Australia (<10,000 people, over half live in Carnarvon where 18% are indigenous)
- 600 km (370 mi) of Indian Ocean coastline
- extends inland about 500 km with area of 135,073.8 km2
- rainfall is low 200 mm (8 in), most of which occurs as a result of cyclonic activity during Dec-May
- mainly scrublands with spinifex and mulga, and with very little tree cover
- main industries are tourism, fishing, horticulture along the banks of the river while salt and gypsum are mined at Lake MacLeod, north of Carnarvon
- the Ningaloo Reef
- 260km long reef, 1200km north of Perth
- Australia's largest fringing coral reef and the only large reef positioned very close to a landmass (<500m from shore at Coral Bay)
- most famed for its whale sharks which feed there during March to August, the reef is also rich in coral and other marine life
- during the winter months, the reef is part of the migratory routes for dolphins, dugongs, manta rays and humpback whales
- important breeding ground of the loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles.
- beach camping and fishing, snorkeling, etc but very soft sand access, no shade, and can have large tidal ranges to be aware of
- Shark Bay World Heritage Site
- the westernmost point of the Australian continent and 800km north of Perth
- initially dry and occupied by Aborigines up to 22,000yrs ago, it became flooded and has remained a bay when sea levels rose 6000-8000 yrs ago
- one of the largest and most diverse seagrass beds in the world
- stromatolites
- large population of dugongs
- the site of Australia's first pearling industry when production of mother-of-pearl began in January 1850
- is becoming over-touristy
Towns
- Carnarvon
- Exmouth
- Denham
- Gascoyne Junction
- Coral Bay
australia/wa/carnarvon.txt · Last modified: 2024/10/13 20:57 by gary1