Cambridge Gulf facts for kids
The Cambridge Gulf is a large bay located on the northern coast of the Kimberley region in Western Australia. It's a special kind of bay where fresh water from rivers mixes with salty ocean water. This mix creates a unique environment called an estuary.
Many rivers flow into the Cambridge Gulf. These include the Ord River, Pentecost River, Durack River, King River, and the Forrest River.
The gulf has very strong tides. Twice a day, the water level can change by about 7 to 9 meters (23 to 30 feet)!
The town of Wyndham is an important port located on the eastern side of the gulf. It's about 100 kilometers (62 miles) by road from Kununurra. Cambridge Gulf is actually part of a larger bay called the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, which is in the Timor Sea.
The entrance to Cambridge Gulf is marked by Cape Domett on the east and Cape Dussejour on the west. Lacrosse Island sits in the middle of the entrance.
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What is Cambridge Gulf Like?
The western side of the gulf has tall sandstone hills. These hills range from 30 to 250 meters (98 to 820 feet) high. Along the shores, you'll find thick forests of mangrove trees. When the tide is low, large mudflats appear. The eastern side of the gulf also has many mangroves in marshy areas.
Adolphus Island is located at the southern end of the gulf. It splits the water into two channels, and the western channel is safe for boats to pass through.
History of Cambridge Gulf
First People
The original people of this area are the Jeidji people. They have lived here for a very long time.
European Exploration
The first European to explore Cambridge Gulf was Phillip Parker King. He was mapping the coast of northern Australia on his ship, the HMS Mermaid. On September 17, 1819, King landed on Lacrosse Island. From there, he saw a "deep opening" to the south. This was the entrance to what would become Cambridge Gulf.
King and his crew spent 12 days exploring this new area. They sailed deep into the gulf. On September 18, 1819, King wrote in his journal that Adolphus Island divided the gulf into two arms. He explored the western arm, which seemed more important.
King named the gulf after the Duke of Cambridge. The Duke was also known as His Royal Highness the Viceroy of Hanover. Adolphus Island was also named after him.
Later Explorers and Settlers
Alexander Forrest was another European explorer who came to the area in 1879. He explored the rivers that flow into the gulf, like the Ord River and the Negri River. He named the Ord River after the Governor of Western Australia at the time.
By late 1884, some of the first settlers arrived in the Kimberley region. Many came to Cambridge Gulf in early 1885. They were hoping to find gold around Halls Creek. The port town of Wyndham was officially named in 1886. During the 1886 gold rush, as many as sixteen ships would be waiting in the gulf to dock.
Images for kids
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Phillip Parker King's map of Cambridge Gulf, published in 1826
