The smallest continent on planet Earth is Australia. This continent is located in the Southern Hemisphere and is washed by the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Australia has picturesque nature and unique wildlife. Numerous attractions attract tourists from different countries.
Extreme points of the smallest continent
Every continent has 4 extreme points, and Australia is no exception:
- South Point is a cape located in the south of the continent.
- Byron is a point on the east coast of Australia.
- To the west is Steep Point.
- Cape York is the northernmost point.
If you draw a diagonal from the western to the eastern cape, the distance will be about 4,000 km. But the southern and northern points are a little closer to each other - about 3,200 km.
Each of these places has its exact geographic coordinates:
| Cape York | 10o4121 S | 142o3150 E. D. |
| Cape Byron | 28o3815 S | 153o3814 E. D. |
|
Cape Steep Point |
26o0905 S | 113o0918 E. D. |
| South Point Cape | 39o0820 S | 146o2226 E. D. |
Northern Cape of Australia
Cape York is located in the northern part of the Australian continent, on the Cape York Peninsula, the length of which is more than 600 km. These territories are located at a remote distance from large cities and are undeveloped. The shores of the peninsula are washed by the waters of the Arafura and Coral Seas. About 150-160 km from the northernmost point of Australia is the large island of New Guinea. It is separated from the mainland by the Torres Strait.
Geographically, Cape York belongs to the second largest Australian state - Queensland. The nearest town (Bamaga) is 40 km away.
The area of the peninsula is approximately 137 thousand square kilometers. Despite the fact that this area is quite large, it has a population of 18,000 people. Approximately 60% of these people are local Aborigines and islanders.
Historical facts
Today, the northern point of Australia is known to us as Cape York. It is easy to guess who discovered this remote corner of the planet. Those who have carefully studied geography know that in 1770 the great navigator James Cook arrived in the easternthe shores of a new continent. The discovery aroused particular interest among Europeans, and after some time the British built the city of Sydney in the southeastern part of the mainland. By the end of the 18th century, Australia became one of the British colonies.
Cape York and Cape York were named by a British navigator in honor of the great English Duke of York. The same name has survived to this day.
Description of the Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula has a unique landscape. Its western part is lowland, while the east is mountainous. The highest point on the peninsula has a height of 823 m. It is located near the village of Coen, on the McIrley ridge. Low hills and mountains are a continuation of the Great Dividing Range. On the east and west they are surrounded by lowlands called Laura and Carpentaria. The relief of the peninsula is cut by numerous armholes and rivers.
Unlike other areas of Australia, the soil in this area is infertile, which is why there is too little population density. The humid maritime climate and strong winds have caused soil erosion, making it extremely difficult to farm in this region.
Cooktown is the administrative center of the peninsula. It is located in its southeastern part. Since the population in these places is small, there are no large metropolitan areas. Laura, Lakeland, Cohen - these are just small settlements located near the main highway. Two small settlements of Seisiaand Bamaga, which are located in the north of the peninsula, are inhabited mainly by aborigines.
Nature of Queensland
The area, located in northeastern Australia (Queensland), in 1988 was included in the UNESCO list. Tropical forests, with untouched wildlife, a unique landscape including rivers, waterfalls, mountains and gorges, have become a World Heritage Site.
The flora and fauna of these places is amazingly rich. This is due to the climatic features of the region. The air temperature in summer is on average about 30 degrees Celsius, and the winter in these parts is quite warm. The thermometer drops only 5 degrees below. A little colder near the cliffs and on the plateau: in summer plus 17-28, in winter plus 9-22 degrees.
The climate in this region is very humid, so the nature reserve is called Wet Tropics of Queensland, which means Wet Tropics of Queensland.
The forests are home to more than 100 species of animals and approximately 380 varieties of plants, which are rare and endangered representatives of flora and fauna.
Beaches of the peninsula
Many people love to travel, exploring never-before-seen corners of the planet, they do not bypass Cape York. Australia is fraught with a lot of interesting and unknown: unique nature and wildlife, amazing landscapes with their magnificence. There really is something to see here. If you decide to visit the northernmost point of this continent, do not forgetenjoy the seascapes and beaches of the Cape York Peninsula.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches along the eastern coastline of the mainland, the length of which is about 2,300 km. This is a kind of "Mecca" for tourists from all over the world.
The most popular Cape York beaches are:
- Somerset.
- Chilli beach.
Their appearance resembles a paradise, tropical corner. Although these places have problems:
- The north coast of Australia is characterized by strong low tides.
- Poisonous jellyfish are found in sea waters.
- Ocean currents bring debris to the shores, but this problem is eliminated by regularly cleaning the coast.
- Crocodiles are one of the many inhabitants of these places.
If you wish to visit Cape York, the ideal time for this is May-November. This is the period of the dry season, although during the rains the surrounding nature becomes more picturesque and vibrant. This has a special charm. But during the rainy season, it is difficult to travel in these places, since even a jeep cannot pass here.
Cape York is an outlandish paradise in the tropics, where a large number of endemic animals and plants of Australia can be found. To feel all the charm of untouched nature, it is worth visiting these places.
