The Gap, Ocean cliff in Watsons Bay, Australia.
The Gap is a sandstone cliff at the southern entrance to Sydney Harbour, where the rock platform meets the ocean abruptly. The formation runs along the outer tip of the peninsula, with vertical walls dropping straight into the water.
European settlers built a lookout post on the clifftop in the late 18th century to spot approaching ships early. The coastline later became part of Sydney's military defense line during colonial times.
The name comes from the opening between the rocks, which frames views of the open ocean and has marked the spot as a navigation point for centuries. Walkers use the viewing platform today as a meeting point to watch the light over the Pacific at sunset.
A paved walkway leads from the parking area to the viewing platform and is accessible for wheelchair users. The wind can be strong along the open coast, so sturdy footwear and a jacket are recommended.
A small rock ledge below the platform carries the name Jacob's Ladder, after a sailor who climbed the cliff there in 1857 as the sole survivor of a shipwreck. The natural step was later used by lighthouse keepers as an emergency exit.
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