Today's Virtual Adventure takes us to the Kimberly Region of Western.
Specifically Mitchell River National Park and its river and falls.
Winding serpent-like through 445 square acres, the river and park are habitat to over 50 species of mammals, 220 different birds and 86 unique amphibians and reptiles.
This gives the park biological significance in Australia.
Established in 2000...there are still 3 tribes of aboriginal people living within its vast area.
Helicopter Tour of the Park and Falls
https://youtu.be/-7cbP3NZIT0
https://youtu.be/-zMngUAEUIE
and
Shark Bay
Shark Bay was deemed a World Heritage Site in 1991. It encompasses
5,438,550 square acres of which 3,200,000 is covered in water with an average depth of 30 feet. There are three Marine Biologist Parks located here. Many peninsulas and islands and nearly 190 miles of limestone cliffs overlooking the bay.
Additionally stromatolites can be seen in Hamelin Bay.
These are considered the oldest living fossils in the world. Hamelin Bay is only one of three sites in the world where these still exist.
They are formed of layer upon layer of rock formed by cyanobacteria some dating back over 3.7 billion years ago.
The type of bacteria which still causes the stromatolites growth in Shark Bay is called Chlorophyll f. looking like this
It uses water, sunlight (from the red end of the spectrum) and carbon dioxide to provide its own food source.
These stromatolites grow at a maximum of 0.3 mm a year...and some of the larger ones are over a meter tall.
Hamelin Bay Museum also has one of the ONLY living stromatolites (in an aquarium) in the world and has recorded its growth through the years.
Stromatolites
https://youtu.be/mgmFCDRtAkY
Diving among the stomatolites
https://youtu.be/uzwvjOSS2Pc
What Are Stromatolites
https://youtu.be/N-G7IJCkyvg
Shark Bay
https://youtu.be/mzMz0dBuoOI
More anon...next week Willie Creek Pearl Farm