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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

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