Cape Arid National Park
Cape Arid National Park Western Australia | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 33°42′14″S 123°22′10″E / 33.70389°S 123.36944°E |
Population | 4 (SAL 2021)[1] |
Established | 1969 |
Area | 2,794.46 km2 (1,078.9 sq mi)[2] |
Managing authorities | Department of Environment and Conservation |
See also | List of protected areas of Western Australia |
Cape Arid National Park is a national park located in Western Australia, 731 kilometres (454 mi) southeast of Perth. The park is situated 120 kilometres (75 mi) east of Esperance[3] and lies on the shore of the south coast from the eastern end of the Recherche Archipelago.
The bay at its eastern side is Israelite Bay, a locality often mentioned in Bureau of Meteorology weather reports as a geographical marker.[4] The western end is known as Duke of Orleans Bay.[5] Its coastline is defined by Cape Arid, a bay called Sandy Bight[6] and, further east, Cape Pasley.[7]
History
The first European to discover the area was the French Admiral
Pioneer
Bay whaling was conducted by Thomas Sherratt at Barrier Anchorage in the 1870s.[8] John Thomas also seems to have had a bay whaling operation in the 1860s at Thomas's Fishery.
As a result of the
Environment
Geography
The area is composed of sandy beaches and rocky headlands to the south with low granite hills extending to the north to join the jagged Russell Range that is primarily composed of pre-cambrian quartzite. The highest point of the park is Tower Peak, located within the Range, which reaches a height of 594 metres (1,949 ft). Sand-plains that are rich in flora surround the hill areas.
The eastern boundary of the park joins the western side of Nuytsland Nature Reserve.[13] Ngadju Indigenous Protected Area adjoins the park on the north.
Fauna
A wide variety of
Fauna that can be found include the western brush wallaby, quenda, the southern bush rat, many small marsupial predators and a variety of reptiles and amphibians.
A rare and primitive species of ant of the genus Nothomyrmecia is thought to inhabit the area.[15]
Flora
Vegetation found within the park is mostly on young dune systems that have large communities of coastal heath with smaller systems of
Trails
Many walk trails can be found in the park, including the Len Otte Nature Trail, Tagon Coastal Trail, Boolenup Walk Trail and walks up both Mount Ragged and Mount Arid. The most accessible campsite is at Thomas River with conventional drive access, barbecues, toilets and water tanks. Other campsites at Mount Ragged, Poison Creek and Deal Creek are only accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles.
See also
- Protected areas of Western Australia
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Cape Arid (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ISSN 1835-114X. Archived from the originalon 11 January 2011.
- ^ "Australian Adventure Directory - A guide to Cape Arid National Park at Esperance, Western Australia". 2009. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
- ^ "Eucla Coastal Waters". Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ Chalmers, C. E. (Colin E.); Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Environment; Western Australia; Chalmers, Colin (1983), Duke of Orleans Bay Regional Park plan of development and management, Dept. of Conservation and Environment, retrieved 20 June 2023
- ^ Australia. Division of National Mapping (1982), Sandy Bight (1st ed.), NATMAP, retrieved 20 June 2023
- ^ "Place Names Search: Cape Pesley". Commonwealth of Australia 2010. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-920899-62-2pp. 142–3.
- ^ a b c d Shine, Rhiannon (30 November 2015). "Fears for rare western ground parrot after Esperance fires destroy 90 per cent of habitat". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ a b c Rhiannon Shine; Sam Tomlin (22 January 2016). "Western ground parrot 'facing extinction' after devastating Esperance bushfires". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ Jorgensen, Cari (3 December 2015). "90 Percent of Western Ground Parrot Habitat Destroyed By Fire In Australia". BirdChannel. I-5 Publishing. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Shine, Rhiannon (6 January 2016). "Perth Zoo's western ground parrot breeding program suffers setback after death of two birds". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "Department of Environment and Conservation - Cape Arid and Eucla National Parks". 2007. Archived from the original on 28 January 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
- ^ "Department of Environment and Conservation - Parkfinder - Cape Arid National Park". 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- ^ "Cape Arid National Park (Place ID 9814)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010.