Frankland-Group-Nationalpark

The Frankland Group National Park (English: Frankland Group National Park ) is a national park in northeastern Australian state of Queensland. The Frankland Group consists of five islands. These are Russell Iceland, High Iceland, Iceland Normanby, Mabel Iceland and round Iceland.

Location

It is located 1353 km northwest of Brisbane and 45 kilometers south-east of Cairns, 10 kilometers off the coast.

In the neighborhood are the national parks Russell River, Grey Peaks, and Fitzroy Iceland.

Landforms

All islands consist of weathered sedimentary rocks. They are part of the coastal mountain range, which was flooded by the sea 6,000 years ago. To the islands are coral reef with hard and soft corals.

Flora and Fauna

The rocks are covered with a good mix of some tropical rain forest and coastal heathland. In the tidal flats can be found mangrove forests.

On the islands many different water birds, but also two-color fruit pigeons, other fruit doves, various honey eaters and White-bellied Swallow Star nest ( Artamus leucorynchus ).

History

For the local Aboriginesstämme the Mandingalbi, Yidinji and Gungandji the islands had a special significance as they gathered there, fished and hunted together.

Lieutenant James Cook gave the island its name in 1770 by Sir Thomas Frankland, a Lord of the Admiralty and his nephew of the same name. On Russell Iceland was created in 1929 a lighthouse and it was declared a Commonwealth Iceland. The other islands were annexed in 1936 in a national park, to the Russell Iceland in 1994 was as much.

Access and facilities

The islands are accessible only by private boat.

Tents in the park is only permitted on Russell Iceland and Iceland on high. There are hardly any special equipment. On Normanby Iceland there is a 1 km long circular route.