Shell Beach (Western Australia) Explained
Shell Beach is a beach in the Shark Bay region of Western Australia, located 45km (28miles) south-east of Denham.
Situated on the northeastern side of the Taillefer Isthmus along the L'Haridon Bight, the beach is covered with shells for a 60km (40miles) stretch to a depth of NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet). It is one of only two beaches in the world made entirely from shells.[1] [2]
The beach was named because of the great abundance of the shells of the cockle species Fragum erugatum. The seawater in the L'Haridon Bight has a high salinity due to both the geomorphology and local climate of the area. This high salinity has allowed the cockle to proliferate unchecked, since its natural predators have not adapted well to this environment.
The shells have formed a limestone that is known as coquina. Before Shark Bay became a World Heritage Site, the coquina was mined and used for the construction of a number of buildings in Denham.[3]
External links
- Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20070810210358/http://www.sharkbay.org/terrestial_enviroment/page_18.htm. 10 August 2007 . Shark Bay - Shell Beach .
- Web site: The Outback Coast . 23 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070830160440/http://www.cbs.curtin.edu.au/business/future-students/discover-wa/the-outback-coast . August 30, 2007 . en . unfit.
- Web site: https://archive.today/19991003062221/http://nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/DingosBreakfastClub/Australia/Shellbeach.html. 3 October 1999 . Welcome to the Shell Beach Counting Confabulation!.
Additional information
Notes and References
- http://www.discoverwest.com.au/western_australia/shell_beach.html Shell Beach Monkey Mia Western Australia Tourism Information Guide
- http://www.australiaadventures.com/sharkbay.htm Shark Bay, Western Australia at Australia Adventures
- https://web.archive.org/web/20110219213659/http://www.sharkbay.wa.gov.au/tourism/what_to_see_and_do/index.html Shire of Shark Bay - What to See and Do
