Christmas Island (Tasmania)
The Christmas Island, part of the New Year Group, is a 63.49-hectare (156.9-acre) granite island located in the Great Australian Bight, lying off the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia.[1][2][3] According to the International Hydrographic Organization, the line separating Bass Strait from the Great Australian Bight runs through King Island, so Christmas Island lies in the Great Australian Bight.
![]() Christmas Island, located top left, relative to King Island | |
![]() ![]() Christmas Island Location of Christmas Island in the Bass Strait | |
Geography | |
---|---|
Location | Roaring Forties, Bass Strait |
Coordinates | 39°40′48″S 143°49′12″E |
Archipelago | New Year Group |
Area | 63.49 ha (156.9 acres) |
Administration | |
Australia | |
State | Tasmania |
LGA | Municipality of King Island |
The island forms part of the King Island Important Bird Area because of its importance for breeding seabirds and waders.[4]
Fauna
Breeding seabird and shorebird species include little penguin, short-tailed shearwater, Pacific gull, silver gull, sooty oystercatcher, pied oystercatcher and black-faced cormorant. Reptiles include tiger snakes and lizards. A species of mouse is present.[3]
References
- "Christmas Island (TAS)". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.
- "Travel: King Island". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
- Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; Halley, Vanessa (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Hobart: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. pp. 47–49. ISBN 0-7246-4816-X.
- BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: King Island. Downloaded from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 July 2007. Retrieved 2013-05-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) on 2011-07-16.