Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray-Kulkyne Biosphere Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray-Kulkyne Biosphere ReserveVictoria |
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Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray-Kulkyne Biosphere Reserve
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 Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray-Kulkyne Biosphere Reserve
Location in Victoria
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| Nearest town or city | Mildura |
| Established | 1981 |
| Area | 515.00 km2 (198.8 sq mi) |
| Visitation | 99,000 (annual estimate) (in 2016) |
| Managing authorities | Parks Victoria |
| Footnotes | Coordinates |
The Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray-Kulkyne Biosphere Reserve is a special natural area in Victoria, Australia. It is located on the southern side of the Murray River, south-east of the city of Mildura. This reserve is made up of two important protected areas: the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park and the Murray-Kulkyne Park.
Contents
What is a Biosphere Reserve?
A biosphere reserve is a place recognized by UNESCO. UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. These reserves are chosen because they have unique natural environments. They are also places where people live and work. The goal is to find a balance. This balance helps protect nature while also allowing people to use the land in a sustainable way.
Why is This Reserve Special?
The Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray-Kulkyne Biosphere Reserve is important for several reasons. It helps protect different types of natural homes, called habitats. It also allows scientists to study how nature and people can live together.
Exploring the Reserve's Landscapes
This biosphere reserve has three main types of natural environments. These are river woodlands, savanna woodlands, and saline shrublands. Each type of environment has its own unique plants and animals.
River and Wetland Areas
The mighty Murray River flows through the reserve. It is connected to several wetlands. Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present near the surface of the soil, for all or parts of the year. However, because the climate here is semi-arid (meaning it's quite dry), these wetlands only fill with water sometimes. This happens when there is enough rain or river flow.
Unique Land Formations
The reserve also features interesting land formations. There are flat areas called saline flats. These have shallow soils over a mineral called gypsum. You can also find dune fields. These are old sand ridges from a very long time ago. Finally, there are floodplains. These flat areas were formed by river sediments during floods.
Management and History
The Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray-Kulkyne Biosphere Reserve was officially created in 1981. It is managed by Parks Victoria. They work to protect the natural environment and allow people to visit and learn about this special place.
