SHARK BAY
LOCATION
GENERAL FACTS
PLANTS & ANIMALS
Shark Bay is a World Heritage Site in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. The 2,200,902-hectare, heritage–listed area is located approximately 800 kilometres north of Perth, and is the westernmost point of Australia.
- An expedition led by Dirk Hartog happened upon the area in 1616, becoming the second group of Europeans known to have visited Australia.
- The bay itself covers an area of 10,000 km², with an average depth of 10 metres.
- In Shark Bay’s hot, dry climate, evaporation greatly exceeds the annual precipitation rate.
Shark Bay World Heritage Area is a refuge for some of the world’s most endangered animals and plants.It features many endemic plants, including threatened species; Beard’s mallee, and is home to many animals; eg. the Shark Bay mouse, Western barred bandicoot, Greater bilby, Rufous hare-wallaby (Mala), Banded hare-wallaby, Shark Bay boodie, Woylie, Greater stick-nest rat, Dugong, Humpback whale