Browse Island facts for kids
 Browse
Location in Western Australia
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Timor Sea |
| Coordinates | 14°06′32″S 123°32′57″E / 14.10889°S 123.54917°E |
| Administration | |
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Australia
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| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Browse Island is a small island in the Timor Sea. It is about 180 kilometers (112 miles) north-west of the Kimberley coast in Australia. The island is very small, about 14 hectares (35 acres) in size. No people live on Browse Island.
It is a special protected area called a Western Australian Nature Reserve. This means it is looked after by the government to keep its nature safe.
Environment
Amazing Animals
Browse Island is a very important place for animals. Many green turtles come here to lay their eggs. Lots of seabirds also use the island as a nesting site.
The island is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. These reefs are home to many different sea creatures. Cooler water from deep in the ocean comes up near the island. This water brings tiny creatures called krill, which are food for bigger animals. People have even reported seeing humpback whales eating near the island.
People and the Island
People have visited Browse Island for a long time. From 1870 to 1890, people dug up bird droppings, called guano, from the island. Guano was used as a fertilizer to help plants grow.
There are nine old shipwrecks around the island. One of these shipwrecks is very important for history. Today, there is a landing spot for helicopters on the island. This helipad is used by companies that work with oil and gas.
Fishermen from Indonesia sometimes visit the waters around Browse Island. This is allowed because of a special agreement. This agreement lets them fish in certain parts of Australia's ocean area.
A lighthouse was built on the island in 1945. It first used gas to power its light. Later, in 1985, it was changed to use solar power.
A huge platform called Ichthys Explorer is near the island. This platform helps get natural gas from under the ocean. It is the biggest platform of its kind in the world!
