Bigge Island (Bigge Island)
Bigge Island is an island off the coast of the Kimberley region in Western Australia, within the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley.
The island lies approximately 6 km from the mainland, from which it is separated by Scott Strait. It is located between York Sound and Montague Sound and approximately 10 nmi north of Cape Pond.
Bigge Island is the second largest island of the Bonaparte Archipelago (after Augustus Island) and has a total area of 178 km2. It has an irregular shape with a length of 22 km and a width of 6 km. The island has many shallow reef-strewn bays around its heavily indented coastline on all four sides. Boomerang Bay is the largest bay and is found on the western coast of the island.
Geologically, the island is composed of weathered sandstones and dolerites forming a rugged terrain. The island is criss-crossed by many deep grooves and fissures in the rock, forming valleys and fissures which support the island's vegetation. The highest point on the island is Savage Hill on the south coast opposite Scott Strait, at 143 m; the northernmost point is Cape Chateaurenaud. Islands surrounding Bigge Island include Prudhoe Island, Purrungku Island, Capstan Island and the Maret Islands.
The traditional owners of the area are the Uunguu people of the Wunambal language group, whose name for the island is Wuyurru. Indigenous Australian rock art exists on the cliffs and cave walls around Wary Bay. The paintings include examples of first contact art and Wandjina figures. The rock art was created by the Wunambal people.
The lack of feral predators makes the island an ideal habitat for vulnerable mammal species such as the monjon, the ilangnalya and the northern quoll
The island lies approximately 6 km from the mainland, from which it is separated by Scott Strait. It is located between York Sound and Montague Sound and approximately 10 nmi north of Cape Pond.
Bigge Island is the second largest island of the Bonaparte Archipelago (after Augustus Island) and has a total area of 178 km2. It has an irregular shape with a length of 22 km and a width of 6 km. The island has many shallow reef-strewn bays around its heavily indented coastline on all four sides. Boomerang Bay is the largest bay and is found on the western coast of the island.
Geologically, the island is composed of weathered sandstones and dolerites forming a rugged terrain. The island is criss-crossed by many deep grooves and fissures in the rock, forming valleys and fissures which support the island's vegetation. The highest point on the island is Savage Hill on the south coast opposite Scott Strait, at 143 m; the northernmost point is Cape Chateaurenaud. Islands surrounding Bigge Island include Prudhoe Island, Purrungku Island, Capstan Island and the Maret Islands.
The traditional owners of the area are the Uunguu people of the Wunambal language group, whose name for the island is Wuyurru. Indigenous Australian rock art exists on the cliffs and cave walls around Wary Bay. The paintings include examples of first contact art and Wandjina figures. The rock art was created by the Wunambal people.
The lack of feral predators makes the island an ideal habitat for vulnerable mammal species such as the monjon, the ilangnalya and the northern quoll
Map - Bigge Island (Bigge Island)
Map
Country - Australia
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The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving from south east Asia approximately 65,000 years ago, during the last ice age. Arriving by sea, they settled the continent and had formed approximately 250 distinct language groups by the time of European settlement, maintaining some of the longest known continuing artistic and religious traditions in the world. Australia's written history commenced with the European maritime exploration of Australia. The Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon was the first known European to reach Australia, in 1606. In 1770, the British explorer James Cook mapped and claimed the east coast of Australia for Great Britain, and the First Fleet of British ships arrived at Sydney in 1788 to establish the penal colony of New South Wales. The European population grew in subsequent decades, and by the end of the 1850s gold rush, most of the continent had been explored by European settlers and an additional five self-governing British colonies established. Democratic parliaments were gradually established through the 19th century, culminating with a vote for the federation of the six colonies and foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901. Australia has since maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and wealthy market economy.
Currency / Language
ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
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AUD | Australian dollar | $ | 2 |
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EN | English language |