Wolf Rock, Lord Howe Island facts for kids
Wolf Rock, sometimes spelled Wolfe Rock, is a large rock and reef that is mostly hidden underwater. It is located east of Lord Howe Island. When the tide is low, about 9 feet (2.7 meters) of the rock can be seen above the water.
How Wolf Rock Got Its Name
Wolf Rock is named after an old ship called the Wolf. This ship was built in 1814 for the Royal Navy. Later, it became a whaling ship, hunting whales for their oil.
On August 6, 1837, the Wolf hit a reef near Lord Howe Island. Even though it seemed okay at first, the ship later sank. It went down in deep water about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the island. The ship was carrying a valuable cargo of sperm whale oil when it sank.
A Famous Ship Incident
Wolf Rock has caused problems for other ships too. In 2002, a modern Royal Navy ship, the HMS Nottingham, hit the rock. This happened just after the ship had helped airlift a sick crew member to Lord Howe Island.
The collision caused a huge 160-foot (50-meter) gash along the side of the HMS Nottingham. The damage was so bad that the ship almost sank.
