The Great Australian Bight
The Great Australian Bight is a large bight, or open bay, encompassing an area of the Southern Ocean located off the central and western portions of the southern coastline of mainland Australia. By definition of the International Hydrographic Bureau, the Great Australian Bight extends eastward from West Cape Howe, Western Australia, to South West Cape, Tasmania. The more generally accepted boundaries are from Cape Pasley, Western Australia, to Cape Carnot, South Australia - a distance of 1,160 km or 720 miles. Much of the Bight lies due south of the expansive Nullarbor Plain, which straddles the two Australian states of South Australia and Western Australia.
The Great Australian Bight was first encountered by European explorers in 1627, when a Dutch navigator, Captain Thyssen, sailed along its western margins. The coast was later first accurately charted by the English explorer Captain Matthew Flinders in 1802, during his circumnavigation of the Australian continent. A later land-based survey was accomplished by Edward John Eyre.
The coast line of the Great Australian Bight is characterised by stunning cliff faces (up to 60 m high), surfing beaches and rock platforms, ideal for whale-watching. The waters of the Great Bight, despite being relatively shallow, are not fertile. While most continental shelves are rich in sea life and make popular fishing areas, the barren deserts north of the bight have very little rainfall, and what there is mostly flows inland, to dissipate underground or in salt lakes. In consequence, the Great Australian Bight receives very little of the runoff that fertilises most continental shelves and is essentially a marine desert. It is probably best noted for the large number of sharks that frequent its coastal waters, as well as the increasing numbers of southern right whales that migrate within the region.
The bight is very stormy during winter months.
Economically, the Bight has been exploited over many years as part of the fishing, whaling and shellfish industries. Bluefin tuna have been a favoured target of fishing in the Bight.
A number of settlements exist along the coastline of the Bight, such as Ceduna.
HEAD OF GREAT BIGHT
The Great Head of Bight, 78kms west of Yalata, is a geographical feature of national, environmental and cultural significance to Australians. It is situated on the Yalata Aboriginal Lands and is one of the best Southern Right Whale viewing areas in the world. This is where the white sand-dunes and beaches meet the Bunda cliffs of the Nullarbor. The place is part of the newly proclaimed Great Australian Bight Marine Park. The park covers both State and Commonwealth waters. It provides protection for the Southern Right Whale, the Australian Sea lion and the numerous other species unique to these southern oceans.
ATTRACTIONS
Southern Right Whales visit this coastline between June and October on their annual breeding migration.
Up to 100 whales, including calves, congregate in the seas adjacent to the Bunda cliffs. It is estimated there is a world population of 4000 Southern Right Whales. Australia has a visiting population of 600 - 800.
This whale was hunted to the verge of extinction during the early 19th century because it was a valuable source of oil. In 1931 the plight of the whale was recognised and they were protected in South Australia. In 1996 the Great Australian Bight Marine Park was established.
Distinguishing features of the Southern Right Whale include no dorsal fin, V-shaped blowhole, callosities (lumps around the head region); arched mouth with long baleen plates. Adults range from 16 to 18 metres and calves 5 to 7 metres in length.
Sightings of these beautiful creatures are becoming more common. They are regularly seen at the Great Head of Bight from the clifftop viewing areas in the Nullarbor National Park, along the Eyre Highway.
Yalata Land Management community rangers manage the Head of Bight whale-watching area and are based at the White Well Ranger Station on the Head of Bight road. Permits and information can be obtained from the White Well Ranger Station (June to October), the Yalata Roadhouse or the Ceduna Visitor Information Centre.
During the summer months, (outside whale season) the gates to this area will be open from 8am-5pm (trial period). Entry by gold coin donation towards maintenance and management.
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