Mid West (Western Australia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mid WestWestern Australia |
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Location of Mid West region in Western Australia
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 Mid West
Location in Western Australia
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| Population | 52,000 (2006 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.1101/km2 (0.285/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 472,336 km2 (182,369.9 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | WST (UTC+8) | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) |
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| State electorate(s) |
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| Federal Division(s) | Durack | ||||||||||||||
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The Mid West region is one of the nine main areas in Western Australia. It's a huge area, stretching from the west coast far inland. The main city and administrative center is Geraldton. The region is very big, covering about 285,497 square kilometres (110,231 sq mi), which is larger than many countries! About 54,000 people live here, with more than half of them in Geraldton.
Contents
What is the Mid West Economy Like?
The Mid West region has a varied economy, meaning people do different kinds of work depending on where they live.
Farming and Fishing Near the Coast
Near the coast, there's enough rain for lots of farming. Farmers grow crops and raise animals. Geraldton is also a very important place for fishing. It's the main hub for catching Western Rock Lobster. This type of lobster is super valuable, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars for Western Australia each year!
Mining in the Inland Areas
Further inland, it's much drier. Here, the main industry is mining. People dig for important minerals like iron ore, gold, and nickel. These minerals are used to make many things we use every day.
Tourism in the Mid West
Geraldton is also a popular spot for tourists. People visit to enjoy the coast, learn about the area's history, and explore the natural beauty.
Space Science and Telescopes
The Mid West region is a special place for looking at space! Because it's so isolated and far from city lights and radio signals, it's perfect for powerful telescopes.
Square Kilometre Array (SKA)
The Mid West is home to one of the main sites for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. This is a massive international project building the world's largest radio telescope. When it's finished, it will be incredibly powerful, allowing scientists to see things in space that no other telescope can. It will collect huge amounts of data, helping us learn more about the universe. The telescope parts are located near Boolardy, about 315 km northeast of Geraldton.
WA Space Centre
There's also the WA Space Centre at Yatharagga, not far from Mingenew. This center is like a park for satellites! It has many antennas that track satellites orbiting Earth. Big organizations like NASA and the European Space Agency use facilities here. It's a great spot because the area is a "Radio Quiet Zone," meaning there's very little radio interference to mess with the signals.
How Do People Travel in the Mid West?
Geraldton is the main transport hub for the region. It has roads and railways that connect to its port. This port is important for shipping goods like minerals and agricultural products. In the past, Geraldton was connected to Perth by a private railway.
Conservation Parks and Nature
In 2021, five new conservation parks were created in the Mount Magnet area. These parks cover a huge amount of land, over 114,000 ha (280,000 acres)! They are on the traditional lands of the Badimia people. These parks are special because they protect important natural areas and Aboriginal sites of significance. The parks are managed together by the traditional owners and the government's Parks and Wildlife Service.
See also
In Spanish: Mid West (Australia Occidental) para niños
