Moreton Island
The Moretoninsel is a sandy island on the southeast coast of the Australian state of Queensland. It is located about 40 km northeast of Brisbane and has a size of 168 square kilometers, a north- south extent of 37 km and a width of up to 10 km. Approximately 98 % of the island are as Moreton- Iceland National Park (English: Moreton Iceland National Park ) placed under protection.
Location
Moreton is surrounded by several other large sand islands. These are in the south of South Stradbroke Iceland and North Stradbroke Iceland and northern Bribie and Fraser Iceland Iceland, the largest sand island in the world.
History
The island was discovered in May 1770 by James Cook, who named the northern tip of the island Cape Moreton. However, Cook thought that we are dealing with a part of the mainland at the Cape.
During the Second World War, the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army built a series of fortifications on Moreton. The aim was to protect the port of Brisbane before aircraft attacks.
Between 1952 and 1962, was located in Tangalooma, on the west side of the island, Australia's only whaling station. Today is located in the old buildings of the station, the Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort.
Landscape
Moreton Iceland has crystal clear creeks and lagoons, coastal heaths, rocky headlands, large dunes and miles of sandy beaches, but also a historical lighthouse and ruins of coastal forts are present.
Fauna
The protected bays offer various marine mammals a livelihood. Dugongs graze during their walks in the seagrass populations. Humpback whales can be observed during their migrations from June to November of Cape Moreton from. Over 180 bird species have been found on the island (including seabirds ).
Tourism
Today the Moretoninsel heavily developed and offers up to 170,000 ( one-day) tourists annually, many entertainment options. So you can dive, feed the dolphins or quad biking. Who does not come as a day visitor by fast ferry from Brisbane can stay at a campsite.
The tourist activities on the island should be better controlled on 1 July 2007. Then the Moreton Iceland management should occur plan in place. With it, the Queensland Government will better protect nature and direct the tourism on track.
Oil Spill 2009
In 2009, off the island of an oil spill occurred. A ship lost in a storm both chemicals and oil that polluted the Moretoninsel over dozens of kilometers. Estimated 230 tons of oil into the sea came and taped the beaches.
Trivia
- A salt water lagoon on the island was temporarily used as a home for a manatee. The young cow that has been baptized in the name Pig, should be to train their natural instincts, before it could be released into the wild.
- On the island is the highest sand dune in the world at 285 m near the coast, the Mount Tempest.