Beagle Islands (Western Australia)

The Beagle Islands are a small group of islands in Western Australia, found approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) north west of Leeman.

Beagle Islands
Location of Beagle Islands in Western Australia

Island group

The Beagle Islands are a group of three individual islands:

  • North West Beagle Island with an area of 0.5 hectares (1.2 acres) located 8.6 kilometres (5.3 mi) from the mainland.
  • East Beagle Island with an area of 1.5 ha (3.7 acres) located 8.3 km (5.2 mi) from the mainland.
  • South West Beagle Island with an area of 0.5 ha (1.2 acres) located 8.6 km (5.3 mi) from the mainland.[1]

The group is at the northern end of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group, a chain of 40 islands spread over a distance of 150 kilometres (93 mi).[1]

Geology

The islands were formed approximately 10,000 years ago after large fluctuations in sea levels caused erosion on large areas of the continental shelf during periods of glaciation. Large parallel sand dunes then formed and hardened into limestone, forming islands, most of which have been separated from the mainland for 6,500 years.[1][2]

Well preserved Tamala limestone geological features can be found on all of the Turquoise Coast islands, with supra-tidal hard coral fossils being found on the Beagle Islands.[1]

Sea lions

The islands are home to the largest population of Australian sea lions in Western Australia, The breeding colony is estimated to be between 150 and 250 animals depending on the breeding cycle.[3] East Beagle island is also home to the tree-like form of the Nitre Bush, an important habitat for sea lions when pupping.[1]

Wreck

In 1905 a boat was reported as being wrecked near the islands[4] and in 1934 a fisherman drowned after being swept overboard.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Turquoise Coast islands nature reserves management plan" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2004. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  2. Mory, A. J. (Arthur John); Commander, D. P. (David Philip); Geological Survey of Western Australia (1994), Geology of the Arrowsmith-Beagle Islands 1:100,000 sheet. [Sheet 1938, part of 1838], Geological Survey of Western Australia, ISBN 978-0-7309-4485-0
  3. "Leeman Attractions". Australia's Coral Coast. 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  4. "Wrecked". The Daily News. Perth, Western Australia: National Library of Australia. 19 June 1905. p. 3. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  5. "Fishing Tragedy". Sunday Times. Perth, Western Australia: National Library of Australia. 18 March 1934. p. 1 Section: First Section. Retrieved 8 December 2015.

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