Salisbury Island (Recherche Archipelago) facts for kids
Salisbury Island is a cool place found in the Recherche Archipelago, a group of islands off the southern coast of Western Australia. It's pretty big, covering about 320 hectares (that's like 790 football fields!). It's the third largest island in this island group.
You can find Salisbury Island about 140 kilometers (87 miles) east of a town called Esperance. It's also about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the mainland coast, sitting near the edge of the deep ocean. This makes it one of the most southerly islands in the whole archipelago.
How Salisbury Island Was Formed
Salisbury Island has a really interesting shape! It's made from a huge cliff of limestone that sits on top of a big, rounded granite rock. Think of it like a giant cake with a granite base and a limestone top layer.
Because of these rock types, you can find many amazing caves all over the island. Some of these caves are above the water, and some are hidden deep underwater.
Ancient History of the Island
People believe that Indigenous Australians lived on Salisbury Island a very long time ago, possibly as far back as 18,000 years!
Scientists who study old things, called archeologists, have found ancient tools and objects on the island. These include stone blades, traps for lizards, axe heads, grinding stones, and even watering holes carved into the granite.
These objects are thought to be between 5,000 and 18,000 years old. This was a time when many of the islands in the Recherche Archipelago were actually connected to the mainland, making it easier for people to travel to them.
Amazing Animals of Salisbury Island
Salisbury Island is a very important home for many animals, especially seals! It's a special place where Australian fur seals and New Zealand fur seals come to have their babies.
The island also has other interesting creatures. You can find the black-flanked rock-wallaby hopping around, and the bush rat living among the plants.
In the ocean around the island, there's a lot of action too. Many great white sharks are known to gather here. They hunt the seals and the many schools of fish that live among the limestone reefs and granite rocks underwater. It's a busy and wild place!
