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'''Kangaroo Island''' is ]'s third largest ] - after ] and ]. It is situated 120 km southwest of ], 16 kilometres offshore from ], on the tip of the ] in the state of ]. '''Kangaroo Island''' is ]'s third largest ] - after ] and ]. It is situated 112 km southwest of ] at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent, 13 kilometres offshore from ], on the tip of the ] in the state of ].


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== Geography == == Basic Facts and Figures ==
=== Geography ===


This island is 155 km long and up to 55 km wide and covers an area of 4,500 square kilometres. This island is 145 km long and between 900 meters and 57 kilometers wide and covers an area of 4,405 square kilometres. Australia's third largest island has 509 kilometers of coastline and the highest elevations are on the north coast plateau reaching 307 meters above sealevel.

=== Climate ===

The winters between June and September are mild and wet, the summers usually warm and dry. Tempered by the ocean, particularly on the coastline, maximum temperatures in summer rarely exceed 35 degrees celsius.
Average temperatures in August range between 13 to 16 degrees and in February, the hottest month, between 20 and 25 degrees.
Between May and September the island receives 2/3 of its annual rainfall, varying from 450 mm in Kingscote to 1000 mm near Gosse. Wettest month is July.

=== Population and Economy ===

About 4,100 inhabitants live on the island. 1,400 of them in Kingscote in 1991.
The economy is mostly agricultural (wine, honey, wool, meat and grain). Beside this tourism and fishing play a role.
Kangaroo island is famous for its honey and for being the oldest bee sanctuary in the world (since 1881).
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] ]
''Historical View''

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* ] with ranger guided walks among basking Australian sea lions * ] with ranger guided walks among basking Australian sea lions
* ] with the lighthouses at Cape Border and Cape du Couedic and the koalas close to the ranger station at Rocky River * ] with the lighthouses at Cape Border and Cape du Couedic and the koalas close to the ranger station at Rocky River
* ]
* Cape Willoughby * Cape Willoughby
* ] with guided cave tours * ] with guided cave tours
* Little Sahara, huge ] on the south coast * Little Sahara, huge ] on the south coast
* the island-lookout Mount Thisby with a 360 degrees view around the island * the island-lookout Mount Thisby with a 360 degrees view around the island

=== Restrictions ===

It is prohibited to bring bee-products or rabbits to the island.

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=== Beaches === === Lifestyle ===


Safe swimming is possible on the northern beaches, such as Emu Bay, Stokes Bay or Snelling Beach. Shops and petrol stations can be found in the major villages Kingscote, Parndana, American River, Penneshaw (once called Hog Bay) and Vivionne Bay. Safe swimming is possible on the northern beaches, such as Emu Bay, Stokes Bay or Snelling Beach. The south coast has dangerous undertows and is not safe for swimming because of shark attacks on the sealion collonies that are situated there.
Shops and petrol stations can be found in the major villages Kingscote, Parndana, American River, Penneshaw (once called Hog Bay) and Vivionne Bay.
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== Island's History == == Island's History ==


Kangaroo Island was seperated from mainland Australia by a rise in sealevel about 10,000 years ago. Stone tools found, suggest that Aboriginal people occupied the land at least 11,000 years ago; it is supposed that they disappeared in 200 b.c.. Theories about the cause include disease, wrfare, climatic change or exodus.
In 1802 British explorer ] named the place "Kanguroo" Island, after landing near Kangaroo Head on the north coast of Dudley Peninsula. Biggest town on Kangaroo Island is ], originally established at Reeves Point on 27 July 1836, it is South Australia's first official European settlement.

In 1802 British explorer ] named the land "Kanguroo" Island, after landing near Kangaroo Head on the north coast of Dudley Peninsula. Biggest town on Kangaroo Island is ], originally established at Reeves Point on 27 July 1836, it is South Australia's first official European settlement.


] ]

Revision as of 15:26, 23 July 2004

Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island - after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is situated 112 km southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent, 13 kilometres offshore from Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia.

Basic Facts and Figures

Geography

This island is 145 km long and between 900 meters and 57 kilometers wide and covers an area of 4,405 square kilometres. Australia's third largest island has 509 kilometers of coastline and the highest elevations are on the north coast plateau reaching 307 meters above sealevel.

Climate

The winters between June and September are mild and wet, the summers usually warm and dry. Tempered by the ocean, particularly on the coastline, maximum temperatures in summer rarely exceed 35 degrees celsius. Average temperatures in August range between 13 to 16 degrees and in February, the hottest month, between 20 and 25 degrees. Between May and September the island receives 2/3 of its annual rainfall, varying from 450 mm in Kingscote to 1000 mm near Gosse. Wettest month is July.

Population and Economy

About 4,100 inhabitants live on the island. 1,400 of them in Kingscote in 1991. The economy is mostly agricultural (wine, honey, wool, meat and grain). Beside this tourism and fishing play a role. Kangaroo island is famous for its honey and for being the oldest bee sanctuary in the world (since 1881).

File:KangarooIsland.jpg

Historical View

Tourism

Places of Interest

It is a very popular destination for tourists wishing to spend between a few days and a week there. Popular sites are:

  • Seal Bay with ranger guided walks among basking Australian sea lions
  • Flinders Chase National Park with the lighthouses at Cape Border and Cape du Couedic and the koalas close to the ranger station at Rocky River
  • Remarkable Rocks
  • Cape Willoughby
  • Kelly Hill Caves with guided cave tours
  • Little Sahara, huge sand dunes on the south coast
  • the island-lookout Mount Thisby with a 360 degrees view around the island

Restrictions

It is prohibited to bring bee-products or rabbits to the island.

Cape Willoughby Lighthouse

Lifestyle

Safe swimming is possible on the northern beaches, such as Emu Bay, Stokes Bay or Snelling Beach. The south coast has dangerous undertows and is not safe for swimming because of shark attacks on the sealion collonies that are situated there.

Shops and petrol stations can be found in the major villages Kingscote, Parndana, American River, Penneshaw (once called Hog Bay) and Vivionne Bay.

North Coast near Snelling Beach

Connections to K.I.

Access to the island is via 30 minutes flight from Adelaide, the Capital of South Australia or by sea ferry with Sealink from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw, which takes about 50 minutes. A passenger ferry is operating between Glenelg and Kingscote and takes 2 1/2 hours.

Island's History

Kangaroo Island was seperated from mainland Australia by a rise in sealevel about 10,000 years ago. Stone tools found, suggest that Aboriginal people occupied the land at least 11,000 years ago; it is supposed that they disappeared in 200 b.c.. Theories about the cause include disease, wrfare, climatic change or exodus.

In 1802 British explorer Matthew Flinders named the land "Kanguroo" Island, after landing near Kangaroo Head on the north coast of Dudley Peninsula. Biggest town on Kangaroo Island is Kingscote, originally established at Reeves Point on 27 July 1836, it is South Australia's first official European settlement.