Macquarie Island
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About Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island is a subantartic island and a World Heritage Area in the Southern Ocean, 1,500 km south-east of Tasmania, halfway between Australia and the Antarctic continent. The 34 km long x 5 km wide island is squeezed upwards from the oceanic crust and this is the only place on earth where you find rock types found at great depths in the earths crust. It is a recognised nature reserve with a rich and diverse animal life. It is known for its enormous penguin populations estimated at around 850.000 that find rich foraging and breeding grounds here.Good to know
- Capital:
- Climate: oceanic climate: cool, moist and windy with year around temperatures between 3 and 7 °C
- Timezone: UTC
- No. of inhabitants: None
- Travel alert: EnjoyYourWorld strongly advises you to take necessary precautions for a safe travel. For more info please follow this link
Highlights
- See the unique rocks from the earth's mantle or ophiolites on the north of the island that have been forced up from 6 km below the ocean floor
- The Macquarie Island Nature Reserve, a world heritage area covering the main island and the surrounding islands, with large colonies of penguins, seals and a rich bird fauna with ao albatrosses and the Macquarie Island cormorant. Visitors must have an Access Authority
Getting Around
- The only access to the island is by sea. There are no harbours or landing facillities.
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