Buccaneer Archipelago
The Buccaneer Archipelago is a group of islands off the coast of Western Australia near the town of Derby in the Kimberley region. The closest inhabited place is Bardi located about 54 kilometres (34 mi) from the western end of the island group.[1]
The Archipelago, covering over 50 square kilometres (19 sq mi).[2] is located at the head of King Sound and is composed of about 800 islands found between King Sound and Collier Bay near Yampi Sound.[3] The area experiences a huge tidal range, of over 12 metres (39 ft), which once wreaked havoc on the pearling fleet that operated in the area last century. The islands' rocks are over 2 billion years old, as is the surrounding coastline. The islands themselves were formed more recently as a result of rising sea levels, creating a drowned coastline. The rocks are ancient pre-cambrian sandstones. The islands are generally rocky, many with high cliffs. The islands are in almost pristine condition as a result of their isolation and difficulty of access. Some are sparsely vegetated with patches of rain-forest, and areas fringed with mangroves where silt has built up.[4]
The archipelago was named after the English buccaneer and privateer William Dampier, who charted the area in 1688, by Philip Parker King in 1820.[5]
[edit] Islands
| Island | Area |
|---|---|
| Cockatoo Island | |
| Koolan Island | 27.1 square kilometres (10 sq mi) |
| Irvine Island | |
| Bathurst Island | |
| Bedford Islands | |
| Hidden Island | 19.7 square kilometres (8 sq mi) |
| Long Island | 14.8 square kilometres (6 sq mi) |
| Sunday Island | 13.3 square kilometres (5 sq mi) |
[edit] References
- ^ "Bonzle Digital Atlas – Map of Buccaneer Archipelago". 2009. http://maps.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=3401. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
- ^ "Discover West - Buccaneer Archipelago". 2009. http://www.discoverwest.com.au/masters/destinations/broome-kimberley/buccaneer_archipelago.html. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
- ^ "Ocean Dots - The Island Encyclopedia - Buccaneer Archipelago". 2009. http://www.oceandots.com/indian/kimberley/buccaneer.php. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
- ^ "Derby Visitor Centre". 2009. http://www.derbytourism.com.au/pages.asp?code=80. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
- ^ "Kimberley Extreme". 2009. http://www.kimberleyextreme.com.au/Articles-pg6360.html. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
Coordinates: 16°07′S 123°20′E / 16.117°S 123.333°E
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