South coast of Western Australia facts for kids
The south coast of Western Australia is a long stretch of coastline in the state of Western Australia. It goes all the way from Cape Leeuwin to Eucla. This distance is about 1,600 kilometres (1,000 mi)! This coast faces two big bodies of water: the Great Australian Bight and the Southern Ocean.
Parts of the South Coast
The south coast is very long, so it is often divided into smaller sections. The Bureau of Meteorology, which forecasts the weather, splits it into four main parts:
- Leeuwin Coast: This part stretches from Cape Naturaliste to Walpole.
- Albany Coast: This section runs from Walpole to Bremer Bay.
- Esperance Coast: This area goes from Bremer Bay to Israelite Bay.
- Eucla Coast: This is the easternmost part, from Israelite Bay to Eucla.
Other groups and government departments also divide the region. They often focus on the main towns like Albany (in the Great Southern region) and Esperance further east. Sometimes, people use different points, like Windy Harbour to Mount Manypeaks, to define the coast.
The Rainbow Coast
A special part of the south coast is known as the Rainbow Coast. This is a name used for tourism. It got its name because of the weather! Fast-moving weather fronts often hit the coast from the south. In winter, the sun is lower in the sky. When the sun shines through the rain, it often creates beautiful rainbows.
The main towns on the Rainbow Coast are Albany, Denmark, and Walpole. This area also has many national parks and nature reserves, including:
- Mount Frankland National Park
- William Bay National Park
- West Cape Howe National Park, which is the southernmost point of Western Australia.
Many government reports and environmental studies focus on the "South Coast" area near the Great Southern region.
The Eucla Coast Section
The far south-east part of Western Australia's coast is called the "Eucla Coast." This name is used by the Bureau of Meteorology for their weather forecasts. A writer named Daisy Bates traveled along this coastline and wrote about it before the First World War.
