Iruni Kalupahana Jadetimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Australia
Kangaroo Island, alternatively known as Karta Pintingga ('Island of the Dead') in Kaurna, is Australia's third-largest island. It is located in South Australia, 112 km southwest of Adelaide, and is separated from the mainland by Backstairs Passage. The island has an area of 4,405 square kilometers with a coastline of 540 km. It has a maximum elevation of 307 meters above sea level within Flinders Chase National Park. It is bounded by Backstairs Passage in the northeast and Investigator Strait in the northwest. It is known for natural beauty, wildlife, and diverse landscapes.
Historical and Aboriginal Significance
Kangaroo Island had an indigenous Aboriginal population, referred to at times as the Kartan people. Archaeological evidence suggests that they occupied the island as far back as 16,000 years ago. Nevertheless, after the island became cut off from the mainland by increasing sea levels about 10,000 years ago, the indigenous population ultimately disappeared. The significance of the island to Aboriginal culture is illustrated in the Dreaming story of Ngurunderi, which explains how Backstairs Passage was formed when the waters rose and separated the island from the mainland.
European Settlement and Development
In the early 19th century, Kangaroo Island was irregularly occupied by whalers and sealers prior to the British settlement of South Australia in 1836, which initiated permanent occupation. Agriculture has come to predominate the island's economy, buttressed by a highly advanced southern rock lobster fishery. The largest town on the island is Kingscote and serves as the administrative center, in addition to being a commercial and tourist center. Today, the island is famous for its scenery, fauna, and growing tourism industry.
Nature and Wildlife Conservation
Kangaroo Island boasts several nature reserves that preserve its original vegetation and wildlife. The largest and most renowned reserve, the Flinders Chase National Park, is located on the western end. Open woodlands, diverse coastal ecosystems, and wonderful wildlife, such as kangaroos, koalas, and various birds, define the island. Conservation activities continue to preserve the island's natural beauty, which remains a haven for indigenous flora and fauna and is still accessible for people to indulge in a one of a kind experience in harmony with nature.
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