Hervey Bay (Queensland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hervey Bay |
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View from the International Space Station of the town of Hervey Bay (upper left), the Great Sandy Strait (left), Fraser Island (lower) and Hervey Bay (upper and right), 2013
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 Hervey Bay
Location in Queensland
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| Coordinates | 25°00′13″S 152°50′36″E / 25.0036°S 152.8433°E |
Hervey Bay is a beautiful bay in Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Coral Sea and is located in the Bundaberg Region and Fraser Coast Region. This bay is super famous for its amazing whale watching experiences!
Contents
History of Hervey Bay
The bay was first recorded by Lieutenant James Cook on 21 May 1770. He was exploring the eastern coast of Australia in his ship, the HM Bark Endeavour. After returning to England, he named it Hervey's Bay. He chose this name to honor Admiral Augustus John Hervey. Admiral Hervey was a very important person in the navy from 1771 to 1775.
Early Explorations
In July and August 1799, Matthew Flinders explored the coast from Moreton Bay to Hervey Bay. He sailed in a small ship called the Norfolk. Flinders discovered that Fraser Island was actually an island, not a peninsula connected to the mainland. However, he could not find a clear path through the Great Sandy Strait, which separates Fraser Island from the mainland.
Today, you can find a monument called Matthew Flinders Lookout in Dayman Park, Urangan. It sits on a high cliff facing the bay and remembers his explorations.
Lieutenant Joseph Dayman was the first person to successfully sail through the Great Sandy Strait. He did this on 10 November 1846, using a small boat named the Asp. Dayman decided it was safer to go through the strait. He was worried about the dangerous Breakpoint Spit at the northern end of Fraser Island if he went out to the open ocean.
Whales of Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay is a very special resting place for about 35,000 humpback whales. These whales travel along Australia's east coast every year. They migrate from the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef all the way down to the cold Antarctic Ocean. This huge journey involves about one-third of all the humpback whales in the world!
Whale Behavior
Most female whales spend about two weeks in Hervey Bay. They use this time to nurse their young calves. Young whales also rest in the bay, but not many adult male whales stop here. You can usually see whales in the bay between July and November each year. They often show off many playful behaviors, which is exciting to watch!
Whale Watching Tours
Many companies offer whale watching tours in the bay during migration season. There are strict rules for boats near the whales. These rules help keep the whales safe and prevent them from getting stressed.
There are even stricter rules for approaching the famous albino whale, Migaloo. Migaloo was first seen in 1991. These rules apply to any white whale that might be Migaloo, because he is so rare and popular.
Images for kids
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A humpback whale during a whale watching tour.
