Great Australian Bight, Marine bay in southern Australia
The Great Australian Bight is a large marine bay along the southern coast of Australia, stretching over a thousand kilometers and defined by tall limestone cliffs. These cliffs run almost without interruption along the coastline and reach heights exceeding one hundred meters in some places.
A Dutch navigator first charted the bay in the 17th century, when European ships began exploring the southern waters of Australia. Further surveys followed in the early 19th century, when the coastline was systematically mapped.
The name comes from English and describes a large indentation in the coastline, where the curve of the shore becomes clearly visible from above. Travelers walk along the cliff edges and watch the ocean push against the white rock walls below.
The marine park offers several viewpoints along the coast, from which whales can be seen between June and October. Most access points lie along the Eyre Peninsula, where short trails lead to the cliffs.
The water hosts several hundred fish species and different currents create favorable conditions for a high diversity of plankton. These conditions also attract right whales in winter months, who come here to give birth to their young.
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