Kangaroo Island is the third largest Australian island, after Tasmania and Melville. Currently, Kangaroo Island is a huge on the territory of the Flinders Chase National Park, inhabited by rare and endangered animal species, relict trees and shrubs characteristic exclusively for the area, geological formations.
The park is named after Matthew Flinders, one of the discoverers of the island. Australia is a unique state located on a separate mainland and several islands in the southern hemisphere. South of the capital of Adelaide is an island bearing a funny name – Kangaroo or Koala. It is there that the Flinders Chase National Park is located.
Once the island was inhabited by various species of marsupial animals – kangaroos, koalas, 6 species of bats, populations of frogs, ring-tailed bags and platypuses, emus and echidnas. Some species have become extinct, others have died as a result of fires or human activities.
In 1919, on Kangaroo Island, it was decided to establish a National Park and protect endangered species of the flora and fauna of mainland Australia. So the park, on the territory of which geological formations of amazing size were found, was replenished with various unique species of animals and plants. In 1940, another 23 species of unique Australian animals arrived at the park: monitor lizards, koalas, wallabies, etc. Thanks to state protection, more than one generation of local residents and guests can admire these species.
In the past few decades, an increase in the number of individuals of koalas has been observed on the island. This was achieved thanks to their protection and maintenance of the natural conditions of life.
However, a further increase in the number of koalas is under threat due to the uncontrolled rapid cutting of eucalyptus trees – the main source of food koalas. Eucalyptus trees are highly valued not only in local markets: they produce eucalyptus oil, surprising in their properties, and make various souvenirs.
One of the most attractive objects of the park for tourists from different countries of the world are unusual geological formations, which can be found exclusively on Kangaroo Island and in Flinders Chase Park. These are the so-called Wonderful Rocks, known to the international community as Remarkable Rocks, and Admiral’s Arch.
Unusual wonderful rocks in appearance are very reminiscent of the work of abstract architects. However, this is a creature of nature, not of human hands. At an altitude of 60 m above sea level, huge granite boulders are located. The base of them is the dome of frozen lava.
Scientists have found that the formation of boulders began about 500 million years ago under the influence of rain penetrating the pores of the rocks. The shapes of the stones created by the rains, winds, ocean waves are quite bizarre. They are covered with traces of erosion, and in some places covered with golden-orange lichen.
Another attraction of the Flinders Chase Park is the Admiral’s Arch, a cave located near the Wonderful Rocks. Nature in the face of the ocean has created a fancy outline of the coastline. Tourists from the conveniently located observation deck can see not only the Arch itself, but also the New Zealand fur seals who have found here an amazing shelter.
It is especially nice to watch through the Admiral’s Arch the beauty of the ocean tides. It is best to go up to the observation deck closer to sunset: under the rays of the evening dawn, the unique stone arch begins to play with a variety of colors: you can see a lot of light yellow shades and rich, bright tones.
Flinders Chase National Park is considered to be the pearl of not only Kangaroo Island, but also of all of Australia, and its unique natural sites are considered to be a kind of visiting card of the island.
