Penguin Island (Penguin Island)
Penguin Island is a 12.5 ha island off the coast near Perth, approximately 660 m from Shoalwater. It is home to a colony of approximately 250 little penguins, the largest population of the birds in Western Australia. Since 2007, the island had experienced an 80 percent decline in penguin numbers in 2019 from a peak of 1,700 that year.
The waters surrounding the island make up the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.
Regular ferries carry tourists to and from the island and other marine-park sights, the journey taking 5 minutes from Mersey point. The island can also be reached by private boat, kayaking, swimming, or walking across a 700 m sandbar, most of which is under varying depths of water. The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW) advises against the sandbar walk, as weather conditions can change quickly making the crossing dangerous, which has resulted in several drownings.
The waters surrounding the island make up the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.
Regular ferries carry tourists to and from the island and other marine-park sights, the journey taking 5 minutes from Mersey point. The island can also be reached by private boat, kayaking, swimming, or walking across a 700 m sandbar, most of which is under varying depths of water. The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW) advises against the sandbar walk, as weather conditions can change quickly making the crossing dangerous, which has resulted in several drownings.
Map - Penguin Island (Penguin Island)
Map
Country - Australia
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The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving from south east Asia approximately 65,000 years ago, during the last ice age. Arriving by sea, they settled the continent and had formed approximately 250 distinct language groups by the time of European settlement, maintaining some of the longest known continuing artistic and religious traditions in the world. Australia's written history commenced with the European maritime exploration of Australia. The Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon was the first known European to reach Australia, in 1606. In 1770, the British explorer James Cook mapped and claimed the east coast of Australia for Great Britain, and the First Fleet of British ships arrived at Sydney in 1788 to establish the penal colony of New South Wales. The European population grew in subsequent decades, and by the end of the 1850s gold rush, most of the continent had been explored by European settlers and an additional five self-governing British colonies established. Democratic parliaments were gradually established through the 19th century, culminating with a vote for the federation of the six colonies and foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901. Australia has since maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and wealthy market economy.
Currency / Language
ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
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AUD | Australian dollar | $ | 2 |
ISO | Language |
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EN | English language |