Ocean Beach (Western Australia) facts for kids
Ocean Beach is a really cool spot for visitors, located about 5 kilometers (or 3 miles) south of a town called Denmark in Western Australia. It's a beautiful beach that's part of a bigger area known as Ratcliffe Bay.
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Where is Ocean Beach?
Ocean Beach is nestled within Ratcliffe Bay. To its east, you'll find the Nullaki Peninsula, which is a long piece of land sticking out into the ocean. There's also a smaller rocky area called Wilson Head nearby, which is a granite headland (a piece of land that sticks out into the sea).
The Unique Sandbar and Inlet
One interesting feature of Ocean Beach is its connection to Wilson Inlet. An inlet is like a small arm of the sea, a lake, or a river that reaches inland. Wilson Inlet is usually separated from the ocean by a sandbar. This sandbar is a long, narrow bank of sand that forms part of Ocean Beach. Sometimes, a channel opens up in the sandbar, allowing water to flow between the inlet and the ocean. This channel can move along the beach depending on the season.
Staying Safe at the Beach
Ocean Beach is a popular place, and safety is important! During the warmer months, from December to April, the beach is patrolled by lifeguards. A lifeguard is a trained person who watches over swimmers to keep them safe. During the busy summer holidays, usually from mid-December to early February, a lifeguard is always on duty. It's always a good idea to swim between the flags that lifeguards put up. These flags mark the safest area for swimming.
A Special Rescue Story
In 1993, something unusual happened at Ocean Beach. Four Gray's beaked whales got stranded on the sand. These whales are also known as Scamperdown whales. When an animal is "stranded," it means it's stuck on land and can't get back into the water. People worked hard to help these large marine mammals. Three of the whales were successfully returned to the ocean, which was a great achievement! Sadly, the fourth whale did not survive. This event showed how important it is to help wildlife in trouble.
