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Great Australian Bight Facts

Great Australian Bight Facts
The Great Australian Bight is an open bay off of Australia's mainland. It is located off the southern coast's western and central regions. The Great Australian Bight was first explored by Europeans in 1627 when a Dutch ship reached its western margin. It was later charted by an English navigator in 1802. It is believed that the bight was created approximately 50 million years ago when Australia and Antarctica broke apart.
Interesting Great Australian Bight Facts:
The Great Australian Bight's coastline is made up of cliffs, beaches, and rock platforms. The cliff faces reach as high as 200 feet in some places.
The coastline of the Great Australian Bight is ideal for whale watchers. Southern right whales migrate to the region in the winter season to cave and to breed. This is most common at the Head of Bight.
Whaling in the Great Australian Bight was popular during the 1800s, which diminished the whale population but it has recovered to some degree.
There is limited surface runoff to the Great Australian Bight, resulting in low nutrient water.
There is seasonal upwelling of ocean water at the Eyre Peninsula which creates a hotspot for marine life.
Seagrasses in the Great Australian Bight are limited to reefs, islands, and sheltered bays.
The Australian sea lion and the southern right whale require the Great Australian Bight's habitat to avoid becoming extinct.
Marine life that can be found in the Great Australian Bight include Southern Bluefin tuna, various seafood species, whales, sea lions, albatross, and sharks such as the threatened hammerhead shark.


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