Camden Sound
Encyclopedia
Camden Sound is relatively wide body of water in the Indian Ocean located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Camden Sound is bounded by the Bonaparte Archipelago
to the east, the Buccaneer Archipelgo to the west, and Montgomery Reef – at 292km2 Australia's largest inshore reef – to the South. There is no road access and the nearest town is Kalumburu
, 268 kilometres (167 mi) to the east. Camden Sound includes Augustus Island
, at its northern extent, Champagny, Byam Martin and the Heywood Islands to the West, Bumpus Island, Rice Rocks, Sampson Inlet, Deception Bay and Prior Point to the South. As with the rest of the Kimberley coast, the area is marked by an extreme tidal variation of up to 11m on a spring tide.
The area has received worldwide recognition as a crucial breeding and calving area for the Breeding Group D population of Humpback Whale
s (Megaptera novaeangliae) – at approximately 22,000 individuals, the world's largest Humpback Whale population. The calves are suckled in the warm, tropical waters for several months until they gain the strength for the journey back to the Antarctic
for summer feeding. It has recently been regonized that the whales are also feeding opportunistically along the Kimberley coast. Camden Sound is rich in other cetaceans including The Australian Snub-fin dolphin (described as a species as recently as 2005), Blue Whales, Pygmy Killer Whales, Pilot Whales and Bottlenose Dolphins. In addition, the area is surrounded by fringing reefs with hard and soft corals, turtles, molluscs, fish and marine invertibrates.
On 3 October 2009 Donna Faragher
, Western Australia's Environment Minister, announced that Camden Sound would become the Kimberley's first Marine Park
, largely in recoginition of the area's status as nursery and breeding area to the world's largest population of Humpback Whale
s. The boundaries of the Marine Park are yet to be finalized but will encompass an area of at least 4000 square kilometres (1,544 sq mi).
Camden Sound is bounded by the Bonaparte Archipelago
Bonaparte Archipelago
The Bonaparte Archipelago is a group of islands off the coast of Western Australia in the Kimberley region. The closest inhabited place is Kalumburu located about to the east of the island group....
to the east, the Buccaneer Archipelgo to the west, and Montgomery Reef – at 292km2 Australia's largest inshore reef – to the South. There is no road access and the nearest town is Kalumburu
Kalumburu, Western Australia
Kalumburu and Kalumburu Community are both bounded localities within the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley Western Australia. Kalumburu Community is the northernmost settlement in Western Australia...
, 268 kilometres (167 mi) to the east. Camden Sound includes Augustus Island
Augustus Island (Western Australia)
Augustus Island is an island off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia.The island is in length and has a maximum width of with a total area of and has an irregular shape...
, at its northern extent, Champagny, Byam Martin and the Heywood Islands to the West, Bumpus Island, Rice Rocks, Sampson Inlet, Deception Bay and Prior Point to the South. As with the rest of the Kimberley coast, the area is marked by an extreme tidal variation of up to 11m on a spring tide.
The area has received worldwide recognition as a crucial breeding and calving area for the Breeding Group D population of Humpback Whale
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from and weigh approximately . The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the...
s (Megaptera novaeangliae) – at approximately 22,000 individuals, the world's largest Humpback Whale population. The calves are suckled in the warm, tropical waters for several months until they gain the strength for the journey back to the Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
for summer feeding. It has recently been regonized that the whales are also feeding opportunistically along the Kimberley coast. Camden Sound is rich in other cetaceans including The Australian Snub-fin dolphin (described as a species as recently as 2005), Blue Whales, Pygmy Killer Whales, Pilot Whales and Bottlenose Dolphins. In addition, the area is surrounded by fringing reefs with hard and soft corals, turtles, molluscs, fish and marine invertibrates.
On 3 October 2009 Donna Faragher
Donna Faragher
Donna Evelyn Mary Faragher is an Australian politician. She has been a Liberal member of the Western Australian Legislative Council since 2005, representing the region of East Metropolitan....
, Western Australia's Environment Minister, announced that Camden Sound would become the Kimberley's first Marine Park
Marine Park
Marine Park is a neighborhood located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, that lies between Mill Basin and Gerritsen Beach. The neighborhood is mostly squared off in area by Gerritsen Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, Avenue U and Kings Highway. It partly surrounds the eponymous park. The neighborhood...
, largely in recoginition of the area's status as nursery and breeding area to the world's largest population of Humpback Whale
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from and weigh approximately . The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the...
s. The boundaries of the Marine Park are yet to be finalized but will encompass an area of at least 4000 square kilometres (1,544 sq mi).