Cape Torrens Wilderness Protection Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cape Torrens Wilderness Protection AreaSouth Australia |
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IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
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 Cape Torrens Wilderness Protection Area
Location in South Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Parndana |
| Established | 21 January 1971 |
| Area | 9.4 km2 (3.6 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Department for Environment and Water |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
The Cape Torrens Wilderness Protection Area is a special protected place on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It was first set up on January 21, 1971. Its main purpose is to protect the natural plants and amazing coastal cliffs. On October 15, 1993, it became a wilderness protection area. This means it's kept as wild and untouched as possible.
What is the Cape Torrens Wilderness Area Like?
This protected area covers about 9.4 square kilometers (or 3.6 square miles). It has about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) of beautiful coastline, including a spot called Cape Torrens. You can find it on the northern coast of Kangaroo Island, towards the west.
The area has a coastal ridge and stunning cliffs, which are common along the north coast. As you go further inland, the land gets a bit lower. Near the cliff tops, you'll see a mix of coastal plants, like Acacia paradoxa. Further inland, it changes to open eucalypt scrubland. There are also patches of Eucalyptus cladocalyx woodland on the ridge. These woodlands have other plants like Hakea rostrata, Xanthorrhoea tateana, and Lasiopetalum species growing underneath.
The Cape Torrens Wilderness Protection Area is known as an IUCN Category Ib protected area. This means it's a "Wilderness Area" where nature is protected in its most natural state.
Why is This Wilderness Area Special?
The government agency that looks after this area says it's very special for a few reasons:
- It has amazing natural forests and woodlands that are very healthy.
- The wild coastal scenery is truly outstanding.
- It provides a home for the endangered Glossy Black-cockatoo. These birds are very rare, so protecting their habitat here is super important.
The wilderness quality of Cape Torrens is considered very high. This means it's mostly untouched by human buildings or modern technology. There are no roads or tracks inside the area, and the plants are almost completely natural. It's a truly wild place!
