Needle Rocks
Nickname: The Needles | |
---|---|
Needle Rocks Location off the southern coast of Tasmania | |
Geography | |
Location | South West Tasmania |
Coordinates | 43°39′45″S 146°15′19″E / 43.66250°S 146.25528°ECoordinates: 43°39′45″S 146°15′19″E / 43.66250°S 146.25528°E |
Archipelago | Maatsuyker Islands Group |
Adjacent bodies of water | Southern Ocean |
Area | 10.5 ha (26 acres)[1] |
Administration | |
Australia | |
State | Tasmania |
Region | South West |
Demographics | |
Population | Unpopulated |
The Needle Rocks, also known as the Needles, are a group of five main rock islets located close to the south-western coast of Tasmania, Australia. With a combined area of approximately 10.5 hectares (0.041 sq mi), the islets are part of the Maatsuyker Islands Group, and comprise part of the Southwest National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site.[1][2]
The Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse is located on Maatsuyker Island and illuminates the Needle Rocks.
Fauna[]
The vegetation is dominated by the pig face, a succulent plant.
The islets are part of the Maatsuyker Island Group Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance as a breeding site for seabirds.[3] Recorded breeding seabird and wader species are the little penguin (40 pairs), short-tailed shearwater (860 pairs), fairy prion (10,600 pairs), Pacific gull, silver gull, sooty oystercatcher and black-faced cormorant. The metallic skink is present. Up to 1200 Australian fur seals use the rocks as a regular haul-out site.[2]
See also[]
- South East Cape
- South West Cape
- List of islands of Tasmania
References[]
- ^ a b "Small Southern Islands Conservation Management Statement 2002" (PDF). Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
- ^ a b Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; & Halley, Vanessa. (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart. ISBN 0-7246-4816-X
- ^ BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Maatsuyker Island Group. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 09/08/2011.
- Islands of South West Tasmania
- Protected areas of Tasmania
- South West Tasmania
- Important Bird Areas of Tasmania
- Tasmania geography stubs