Flinders Chase National Park

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Flinders Chase National Park
South Australia
IUCN category II (national park)
File:Remarkable Rocks.jpg
Remarkable Rocks, in the southern part of the park
Flinders Chase National Park is located in South Australia
Flinders Chase National Park
Flinders Chase National Park
Nearest town or city Kingscote
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Established 1919
Area 326.61 km2 (126.1 sq mi)[1]
Managing authorities Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
Website Flinders Chase National Park
See also Protected areas of South Australia

Flinders Chase National Park is a protected area located at the west end of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, about Lua error in Module:Convert at line 272: attempt to index local 'cat' (a nil value). west-south west of Adelaide and Lua error in Module:Convert at line 272: attempt to index local 'cat' (a nil value). west-south west of Kingscote. It is a sanctuary for endangered species and home to a few geological phenomena. It was the second national park to be declared in South Australia.[citation needed] It consists of three sections - an area of coastal landscapes around Cape du Couedic in the south west corner of the island, the Gosse Lands in the centre of the west end of the island and the former Cape Borda Lightstation reserve in the north west corner of the island.

Extent

As of 1993, the park consists of three separate parcels of land:[2]

  • 'Cape du Couedic' which is refers to the main parcel of land within the park and which is bounded at the north by the West Bay Road and the West Melrose Track, to the east by the West End Highway and an unsealed called the Sand Dune Track; and the portion of coastline extending from West Bay in the west to Cape du Couedic in the south and to Sanderson Bay in the east. This portion of the park includes the following islands - Paisley Islet (also known as West Bay Island) at West Bay and the Casuarina Islets immediately south of Cape du Couedic.
  • The Gosse Lands - a parcel of land which is bounded by the Playford Highway to the north and the West End Highway to the west.
  • The former lighthouse reserve at Cape Borda.

Rocky River (Kangaroo Island) is located within Flinders Chase National Park.

Sanctuary

Since the creation of the national park in November 1919, Flinders Chase has become a sanctuary for endangered species, some of them introduced from the mainland in the 1920s and 1930s. During the 1940s, 23 additional species were introduced, including Koalas (1923) and Platypus (1928). Most of these species can still be observed today. Kangaroos, Goannas and Echidnas are commonly seen in the park.

Little penguins

Little penguins have been recorded in Flinders Chase in the 1920s,[3] 1930s,[4][5] 1940s[6] and 1950s.[7] It is believed that these colonies have since gone extinct, in part due to the increase of New Zealand fur seal populations since the end of commercial sealing. In 1886, little penguins were seen at Admiral's Arch.[8]

Geological wonders

The park contains two geological monuments. Remarkable Rocks are naturally sculptured formations precariously balanced atop a granite outcrop. They remind visitors of the sculptures of Henry Moore.[9] Admirals Arch, home to playful New Zealand fur seals, displays the ability of the ocean to carve the coastline.

Fire

Lightning strikes on Thursday 6 December 2007 caused 63,433 hectares of Flinders Chase National Park to be burnt, before finally being contained on 16 December.[10]

Gallery

  • Flinders chase visitors centre.jpg

    Flinders Chase visitors centre

  • Australia kangaroo island echidna.jpg

    Echidna at Flinders Chase National Park

  • Kangaroo Island - Remarkable Rocks.jpg

    Remarkable Rocks

  • Admirals arch kangaroo island.jpg

    Admirals Arch

  • Flinders Chase NP 1.jpg

    View from Bunker Hill lookout

  • Kangaroo Island-kangaroo.jpg

    Western grey kangaroo

See also

References

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External links

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ "Cape de Coudie Light. Guarding rocky coast. Lighthouse keeper's life." The Mail, South Australia (1926-01-23). Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  4. ↑ Hill, Ernestine "A Southern Eden. Flinders Chase and its family" The Advertiser, South Australia (1936-09-05). Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  5. ↑ "Sanctuary - Flinders Chase" The Mail, South Australia (1935-03-30). Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  6. ↑ "Preserving our wildlife - Work being done at Flinders Chase" The Advertiser, South Australi (1946-02-13). Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  7. ↑ N.Q. Naturalists Club "Current Nature Notes. Flinders Chase, Kangaroo Island." Townsville Daily Bulletin, Queensland, Australia (1953-04-25). Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  8. ↑ "Trip across Kangaroo Island" South Australian Register, South Australia (1886-12-07). Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ The Islander 2007-12-20
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