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Katers Island facts for kids

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Katers
Katers is located in Western Australia
Katers
Katers
Location in Western Australia
Geography
Coordinates 14°27′49″S 125°32′01″E / 14.4637°S 125.5336°E / -14.4637; 125.5336
Total islands 1
Area 1,718 ha (4,250 acres)
Highest elevation 101 m (331 ft)
Administration
Australia
Demographics
Population 0

Katers Island is a special island located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is an uninhabited island, meaning no people live there. This makes it a quiet and wild place.

The island is quite large, covering about 1,718 hectares (that's over 4,200 acres!). It sits about 1.4 kilometers (less than a mile) away from the mainland coast. The highest point on Katers Island is 101 meters (about 331 feet) above sea level.

Exploring Katers Island

Katers Island is known for its unique landscape. It has what scientists call "scarp country." This means it has steep, rocky cliffs and slopes. You can also find lots of loose rocks, called "scree," which have fallen from the cliffs over time. The island also has deep cracks or "joints" in its rock formations. These features make the island rugged and challenging to explore.

Its remote location and tough terrain are part of why it remains uninhabited. This also helps to protect the island's natural environment and any unique animals that live there.

Discovering New Wildlife

One of the most exciting things about Katers Island is a special animal discovery. In 1977, scientists found a new type of Rock Wallaby living on Katers Island and other nearby islands. This new species was named Petrogale burbidgei.

What is a Monjon?

The Monjon is a small and shy rock wallaby. It's a type of marsupial, which means it carries its young in a pouch, just like kangaroos. Monjons are perfectly adapted to live among the rocky cliffs and boulders of islands like Katers. They are very good at climbing and jumping on uneven surfaces.

Finding a new species like the Monjon is important for science. It helps us learn more about the amazing variety of life on Earth. It also shows how special and unique remote places like Katers Island can be. Protecting these islands helps to keep these rare animals safe.

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