Shark Bay
Bay of the Indian Ocean in Western Australia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Shark Bay?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
SHOW ALL QUESTIONS
For other uses, see Shark Bay (disambiguation).
Shark Bay (Malgana: Gathaagudu, "two waters") is a World Heritage Site in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. The 23,000-square-kilometre (8,900 sq mi)[1] area is located approximately 800 kilometres (500 mi) north of Perth, on the westernmost point of the Australian continent. UNESCO's listing of Shark Bay as a World Heritage Site reads:
- "Shark Bay's waters, islands and peninsulas....have a number of exceptional natural features, including one of the largest and most diverse seagrass beds in the world. However, it is for its stromatolites (colonies of microbial mats that form hard, dome-shaped deposits which are said to be the oldest life forms on earth), that the property is most renowned. The property is also famous for its rich marine life including a large population of dugongs, and provides a refuge for a number of other globally threatened species."[2]
Quick Facts UNESCO World Heritage Site, Location ...
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
---|---|
Location | Gascoyne region, Western Australia, Australia |
Criteria | Natural: vii, viii, ix, x |
Reference | 578 |
Inscription | 1991 (15th Session) |
Area | 2,200,902 ha |
Coordinates | 25°30′S 113°30′E |
Close
The bay features Australia's most abundant marine ecosystems.[3] It is a popular fishing spot.