Lord Howe Island Group. You Gotta Go Here
The year is 1788 and a British explorer named Lord Howe has just discovered one of the most amazing land formations in the world. Later, in the early 19th century, a permanent settlement would be formed and passing merchant ships would trade with the islands’ residents. This is how the story of Lord Howe Islands begins.
The islands are located about 700 kilometers north east of the Australian city of Sydney and are considered to fall under the jurisdiction of New South Wales. The islands includes: Lord Howe Island, the Admiralty Group; Mutton Bird and Sail Rock; Blackburn (Rabbit) Island; Gower Island; and Ball's Pyramid as well as a host of other cays and rocks
Lord Howe Island is the main island (10 kilometers long and 2 kilometers wide) and is considered to be an eroded remnant of a larger volcanic island that was formed after a volcanic eruption from the seabed. The other islands are a representation of the peaks of the volcanic cones that rise as high as 1800 meters from the seabed. A simplistic definition of Volcanicity is: a geological process that involves overheating of the earth’s core and on the process of finding a way out of the earth’s core. The extremely hot gases create large vents on the ground and pushes out liquefied soil on the surface. That is exactly how the Lord Howe Island groups were formed.
The exposure to sea winds have largely determined the kind of vegetation that can be found here, and it is mostly shrubs. Among the animals found indigenously here are the forest bats. Others would be 129 native and introduced bird species. Although mammals such as mice, rats and goats are found on the island, they are not indigenous. The island is a special breeding ground for kermadec petrel, black-winged petrel and many more
The islands are aptly named as the world’s most southerly coral reef system. Further south, there are no other coral reef formations. If not for their beauty, visit the islands for their biodiversity. You will have a lot of fun exploring the hinterland and snorkeling in the surrounding waters.
by Kennedy Runo on 06/23/2015 in Awesome Travel Stuff