Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve, Marine nature reserve in Shark Bay, Australia
Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve is a marine protected area in Shark Bay, Western Australia, where stromatolites rise from the seafloor in unusually salty waters. These dark, dome-shaped structures formed through layers of bacteria and minerals accumulated over thousands of years.
The stromatolites here were discovered in 1956 during an oil exploration survey, marking the first confirmed living examples of these ancient structures. This finding reshaped how scientists understood the origins of life on early Earth.
The former telegraph station from 1884 now serves as a museum where visitors encounter objects and stories about how early communication linked this remote region to the wider world. The building itself reflects the isolation of colonial outposts and the effort required to maintain contact across vast distances.
Visitors can view the stromatolites from a raised boardwalk designed for close observation without disturbing the structures. Swimming and boating are restricted near the formations, so it is important to respect these boundaries when exploring the area.
The reserve holds the world's largest collection of living stromatolites, representing life forms from over 3 billion years ago. This exceptional concentration allows visitors to observe an early form of life that otherwise exists only as fossils in most places.
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