French-Island-Nationalpark
The French - Iceland National Park is located on the island of Iceland French in Victoria of Australia. The island lies about 60 km south-east of Melbourne and is just a ferry from Stony Point to reach out. The park covers 11,100 hectares, a 70 % of the island.
History
Today's French Iceland belongs to the historical settlement area of the Aboriginal tribes of the Boon Wurrung and Bunurong. The first Europeans were looking crew members of a French expedition ship the Baudin expedition, the island in 1802. At a European settlement came only from 1842. During the last decade of the 19th century began with the cultivation of chicory. This branch of agriculture was operated about 60 years successfully.
Landscape
The park contains among other things, mangroves, salt marshes and open woods. The landscape is flat to hilly; places offer at elevations of up to 60 m above the sea charming views.
Plant and animal world
In the national park about 580 indigenous plant species have been recorded, including about 100 different species of orchids. About 230 bird species have been recorded, including endangered species such as white-bellied sea eagles, quail and dwarf orange-bellied parrot. Among the mammals, the occurrence of Kaninchenkänguruart Potorous tridactylus and the koala is to be mentioned. The koalas in the area multiply so well that about 200 animals can be located from the holdings of the island in other national parks each year.