Cape Leveque facts for kids
| Location | Cape Leveque at the northern edge of the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia |
|---|---|
| Construction | prefabricated cast iron |
| Tower shape | conical frustum tower with balcony and lantern |
Cape Leveque is a special place at the very top of the Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It's about 240 kilometers (150 miles) north of Broome. Even though it's quite remote with few shops or services, its beautiful sandy beaches are becoming very popular with visitors.
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The Cape Leveque Lighthouse
Guiding Ships Since 1911
A tall lighthouse was built at Cape Leveque and started working on 9 August 1911. This lighthouse is 13.3 meters (about 44 feet) tall. It helps guide ships safely.
How the Lighthouse Works
The light from the lighthouse flashes in a special pattern: three quick flashes every twenty seconds. This light shines from a height of 43 meters (about 141 feet) above the sea. The lighthouse is very important because it marks the western entrance to a large area of water called King Sound.
A Place of History and Nature
Home to Ancient People
Cape Leveque has been a camping ground for thousands of years. Ancient nomadic people, who moved around to find food, used to live here. Even today, you can see huge piles of shells and other remains, called middens, left by these early inhabitants. These middens are much bigger than the small caravan park that now sits by the Indian Ocean.
Amazing Wildlife
The shores of Cape Leveque are a busy place for wildlife. Wild turtles come here to lay their eggs. Many different kinds of sea birds also nest along the coast. At low tide, these birds collect seafood from the rocks that are uncovered by the ocean.
Whales in the Bay
The waters around Cape Leveque are also a special nursery for Humpback whales. These giant whales travel to this area to give birth to their calves. They also rest and play among the sheltered islands just off the Dampier Peninsula.
Traditional Owners of the Land
The Bardi people are the traditional owners of the land around Cape Leveque. They have lived in this area for a very long time and have a deep connection to the land and sea.
Early Explorers' Views
William Dampier's Description
An early explorer named William Dampier visited this area on 5 January 1688. He wrote about Cape Leveque from his ship, the Cygnet. He described the land as "low, even land with sandy banks against the sea." He also noted that "the points [of land] rocky and so are some of the islands in the bay." Dampier found the soil "dry and sandy, destitute of water, except you make wells," but he also saw "divers sorts of trees."
Weather at the Cape
Heavy Rainfall in 2015
In January 2015, Cape Leveque experienced very heavy rainfall. More than 400 millimeters (about 16 inches) of rain fell in the area during that month.
