Daintree National Park
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| Daintree National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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| Nearest town/city: | Daintree |
| Coordinates: | 15°57′33″S 145°24′07″E / 15.95917°S 145.40194°E |
| Area: | 1200 km² (2,730 mi²) |
| Established: | 1988 |
| Managing authorities: | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Official site: | Cape Tribulation Mossman Gorge |
Daintree is a national park in Far North Queensland (Australia), 1,502 km (933 mi) northwest of Brisbane and 100 km (62 mi) northwest of Cairns. It was founded in 1981.[1] In 1988 it was granted listing as a World Heritage List.[1][2] The park consists of two sections, with a settled agricultural area between them which includes the towns of Mossman and Daintree Village. It contains significant habitat for rare species and prolific birdlife.
Much of the national park is covered by rainforest. The Greater Daintree Rainforest has existed continuously for more than 110 million years, making it possibly the oldest existing rainforest. The persistence of this rainforest is believed to be a product of a fortuitous continental drift; after the breakup of its parent supercontinent a portion drifted toward the pole to become Antarctica, disturbing ocean currents and so becoming quite cold, while other portions were moved to hotter and drier locations. Of the vast rainforest of the parent continent only this portion was moved in a way that preserved its climate, and so also its original forests. Tree species once thought to be long extinct have only relatively recently been discovered here. The Great Dividing Range is close to the coast in this region. The popular Mossman Gorge is located in the southern part of the park.[2] Cape Tribulation also lies in the park.[2]
The park is the location of the bouncing stones Aboriginal site at Thornton Beach. The rocks here have a high density due to vulcanism.[1] The park contains the Daintree River, Bloomfield River and Mossman River.
The Wompoo Fruit-dove is one of six species of pigeon that live in the park[1][2] as well as significant populations of the endangered cassowary, a flightless bird of substantial size.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Reid, Greg (2004). Australia's National and Marine Parks: Queensland. South Yarra, Victoria: Macmillan Education Australia. pp. 21. ISBN 073299053X.
- ^ a b c d Hema Maps (1997). Discover Australia's National Parks. Milsons Point, New South Wales: Random House Australia. pp. 168. ISBN 1975992472.
[edit] External links
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