Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern Kangaroo Island Marine ParkAustralia |
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IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
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 Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park
Location in Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Kingscote, South Australia |
| Established | 8 December 2012 |
| Area | 629.93 km2 (243.2 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Director of National Parks |
| Website | Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park |
The Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park is a special underwater area. It is like a national park, but for the ocean! This park is located south of South Australia. It is near Kangaroo Island. The water here goes from about 15 meters (50 feet) deep to 100 meters (330 feet) deep.
This marine park was officially created in November 2012. It used to have a different name. In 2017, it was renamed to Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park.
Protecting Our Oceans
This marine park is part of a bigger group. It belongs to the Australian marine parks network. These parks are managed by the Australian government. They help protect important ocean areas.
Why is this park important?
The Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park is very special. It protects a unique ocean environment. This area is known as the "Spencer Gulf Shelf Province." It has amazing underwater features.
Kangaroo Island Pool
One key feature is the "Kangaroo Island Pool." This area has a lot of "upwelling." Upwelling is when cold, nutrient-rich water from deep in the ocean rises to the surface. This brings lots of food for marine life. It makes the area very productive. Many animals come here to feed and breed.
Home to Amazing Animals
This marine park is a vital home for many creatures.
- Southern right whales: These huge whales use the park as a calving area. This means they come here to give birth to their babies.
- Australian sea lions: These playful animals use the park as a feeding ground. They hunt for fish and other food here.
- Great white sharks: These powerful sharks also come to the park to find food.
How the Park is Managed
The Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park is managed by the Director of National Parks. It is part of the South-west Marine Park Network. This network helps protect a large part of Australia's southern waters.
The park also borders another protected area. This is the Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park (state waters). That park is managed by the government of South Australia. Working together, these parks create a larger safe zone for marine life.
The park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area. This means it's a protected area where people can still use natural resources in a sustainable way. This helps balance protection with some human activities.
