Shark BayShark Bay

► Shark Bay is a world heritage Shark Bay is a world heritage site in the Gascoyne region of site in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. It is an Western Australia. It is an area centered approximately area centered approximately on 25°30′S 113°30′Eon 25°30′S 113°30′E

► 800 kilometres north of Perth, 800 kilometres north of Perth, on the westernmost point of on the westernmost point of Australia. An expedition led Australia. An expedition led by Dirk Hartog happened by Dirk Hartog happened upon the area in 1616, upon the area in 1616, becoming the second group becoming the second group of Europeans known to have of Europeans known to have visited Australia. Shark Bay visited Australia. Shark Bay was named by William was named by William Dampier, in 1699.Dampier, in 1699.

►The area has a The area has a population of fewer than population of fewer than 1,000 people and a 1,000 people and a coastline of over 1,500 coastline of over 1,500 kilometers. The half kilometers. The half dozen small dozen small communities making up communities making up this population occupy this population occupy less than 1% of the total less than 1% of the total area.area.

►The bay itself covers an area of 10,000 The bay itself covers an area of 10,000 km², with an average depth of 10 metres. km², with an average depth of 10 metres. It is divided by shallow banks and has It is divided by shallow banks and has many peninsulas and islands. The many peninsulas and islands. The coastline is over 1,500 km long. It is coastline is over 1,500 km long. It is located in the transition zone between located in the transition zone between three major climatic regions and between three major climatic regions and between two major botanical provinces.two major botanical provinces.

► Dirk Hartog Island is of major Dirk Hartog Island is of major historic significance due to historic significance due to early explorers landing upon it. early explorers landing upon it. In 1616 Dirk Hartog landed at In 1616 Dirk Hartog landed at Inscription Point on the north Inscription Point on the north end of Dirk Hartog Island and end of Dirk Hartog Island and marked his discovery with a marked his discovery with a plate, which he inscribed with plate, which he inscribed with the date and nailed to a post. the date and nailed to a post. This plate was then replaced This plate was then replaced by a later explorer and by a later explorer and returned to Holland. It is now returned to Holland. It is now kept in the National Museum of kept in the National Museum of Holland. A replica can be found Holland. A replica can be found in the Shark Bay Discovery in the Shark Bay Discovery Centre in Denham.Centre in Denham.

► Bernier and Dorre islands in Bernier and Dorre islands in the north west corner of the the north west corner of the Heritage area are locations of Heritage area are locations of some last remaining habitats some last remaining habitats of some Australian mammals of some Australian mammals threatened with extinction. threatened with extinction. They are used, as well and They are used, as well and numerous smaller islands numerous smaller islands throughout the marine park, to throughout the marine park, to release threatened species release threatened species that are being bred at Project that are being bred at Project Eden in Francois Peron Eden in Francois Peron National Park. These islands National Park. These islands are feral-free and so provide a are feral-free and so provide a safe haven of pristine safe haven of pristine environment on which to environment on which to restore species that are restore species that are threatened on the mainland.threatened on the mainland.

►The Australian Wildlife The Australian Wildlife Conservatory are guardians Conservatory are guardians of Faure Island off Monkey of Faure Island off Monkey Mia. Seasonally, turtles Mia. Seasonally, turtles come here to nest and in come here to nest and in conjunction with DEC studies conjunction with DEC studies can be conducted on this can be conducted on this sheltered island.sheltered island.

►Stromatolites in Hamelin Stromatolites in Hamelin Pool are ancient structures Pool are ancient structures that are built by microbes.that are built by microbes.

► Shark Bay is an area of Shark Bay is an area of major zoological major zoological importance. It is home to importance. It is home to about 10,000 dugongs (sea about 10,000 dugongs (sea cows), around 10% of the cows), around 10% of the world's population, and world's population, and there are many Indo-Pacific there are many Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, particularly at Monkey Mia. particularly at Monkey Mia. The area supports 26 The area supports 26 threatened Australian threatened Australian mammal species, over 230 mammal species, over 230 species of bird, and nearly species of bird, and nearly 150 species of reptile. It is 150 species of reptile. It is an important breeding and an important breeding and nursery ground for fish, nursery ground for fish, crustaceans, and crustaceans, and coelenterates. There are coelenterates. There are over 323 fish species, with over 323 fish species, with many sharks and rays.many sharks and rays.

►Some Bottlenose Dolphins in Shark Bay Some Bottlenose Dolphins in Shark Bay exhibit the only known case of tool use in exhibit the only known case of tool use in marine mammals (outside of sea otters): marine mammals (outside of sea otters): they protect their nose with a sponge they protect their nose with a sponge while foraging for food in the sandy sea while foraging for food in the sandy sea bottom.bottom.

► Shark Bay has the largest known area of seagrass, Shark Bay has the largest known area of seagrass, with seagrass meadows covering over 4000 km² of with seagrass meadows covering over 4000 km² of the bay. It includes the 1030 km² Wooramel the bay. It includes the 1030 km² Wooramel Seagrass Bank, the largest seagrass bank in the Seagrass Bank, the largest seagrass bank in the world. Shark Bay also contains the largest number world. Shark Bay also contains the largest number of seagrass species ever recorded in one place; of seagrass species ever recorded in one place; twelve species have been found, with up to nine twelve species have been found, with up to nine occurring together in some places. The seagrasses occurring together in some places. The seagrasses are a vital part of the complex environment of the are a vital part of the complex environment of the bay. Over thousands of years, sediment and shell bay. Over thousands of years, sediment and shell fragments have accumulated in the seagrasses to fragments have accumulated in the seagrasses to form vast expanses of seagrass beds. This has form vast expanses of seagrass beds. This has raised the sea floor, making the bay shallower. raised the sea floor, making the bay shallower. Seagrasses are the basis of the food chain in Shark Seagrasses are the basis of the food chain in Shark Bay, providing home and shelter to various marine Bay, providing home and shelter to various marine species and attracting the dugong population.species and attracting the dugong population.

► In Shark Bay's hot, dry climate, In Shark Bay's hot, dry climate, evaporation greatly exceeds the annual evaporation greatly exceeds the annual precipitation rate. Thus, the seawater in precipitation rate. Thus, the seawater in the shallow bays becomes very salt the shallow bays becomes very salt concentrated, or 'hypersaline'. concentrated, or 'hypersaline'. Seagrasses also restict the tidal flow of Seagrasses also restict the tidal flow of waters through the bay area, preventing waters through the bay area, preventing the ocean tides from diluting the sea the ocean tides from diluting the sea water. The water of the bay is 1.5x to 2x water. The water of the bay is 1.5x to 2x more salty than the surrounding ocean more salty than the surrounding ocean waters.waters.

► Shark Bay was inscribed as a World Heritage Shark Bay was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1991. The site covers an area of 23,000 Site in 1991. The site covers an area of 23,000 square kilometres. It includes many protected square kilometres. It includes many protected areas and conservation reserves, including areas and conservation reserves, including Shark Bay Marine Park, Francois Peron Shark Bay Marine Park, Francois Peron National Park, Hamelin Pool Marine Nature National Park, Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve, Zuytdorp Nature Reserve and Reserve, Zuytdorp Nature Reserve and numerous protected islands.numerous protected islands.

►Denham and Useless Loop both fall within the Denham and Useless Loop both fall within the boundary of the site but are specifically boundary of the site but are specifically excluded from it. Shark Bay was the first to be excluded from it. Shark Bay was the first to be classified on the Australian World Heritage list.classified on the Australian World Heritage list.

► The information was The information was taken from: taken from:

►wikipediawikipedia