Edwards Island (Western Australia) facts for kids
Edwards Island, sometimes called Edward Island, is a small island off the coast of Western Australia. It's located very close to the town of Lancelin. This island is a special place because it's part of a protected nature reserve.
About Edwards Island
Edwards Island is quite small. It covers an area of about 0.454 hectares. That's roughly the size of a small park! The highest point on the island is only about 5 meters above the sea.
The island is located very close to the mainland, only about 100 meters away. It's made mostly of limestone, which is a type of rock often found in coastal areas.
Edwards Island is connected to a nearby island called Lancelin Island. They are linked by underwater and low-tide reef platforms. This means you might be able to see parts of the reef at low tide.
A Special Protected Place
Both Edwards Island and Lancelin Island are officially protected. They are called "A Class nature reserves." This means they are very important for nature and wildlife. They are kept safe for plants and animals to live there without much disturbance.
Edwards Island is also part of a larger group of islands. This group is called the "Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group." It's a long chain of 40 islands that stretches for about 150 kilometers along the coast. Edwards Island is at the southern end of this special chain.
A Bit of History
The first European explorer to find this area was a French explorer named Jacques Félix Emmanuel Hamelin. He sailed on a ship called the Naturalist in 1801. Hamelin was the one who named Lancelin Island, which is very close to Edwards Island.
