Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula is a triangle shaped peninsula in South Australia. On the east is Spencer Gulf, and on the west is the Great Australian Bight. Its north boundary is the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by Matthew Flinders in 1801-1802. The west coast was also visited by Nicolas Baudin at around the same time.
| Eyre Peninsula South Australia | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°S 136°E / 34°S 136°ECoordinates: 34°S 136°E / 34°S 136°E |
| Population | 58,700 (2011) |
| • Density | 0.3443/km2 (0.892/sq mi) |
| Area | 170,500 km2 (65,830.4 sq mi) |
| LGA(s) | See Local government areas |
| Region | Eyre Western[1] Far North[2] |
| State electorate(s) | Flinders Giles |
| Federal division(s) | Grey |
Overview
The peninsula was explored by John Charles Darke in 1844, who was killed by local Aborigines on his return to Port Lincoln.
The main towns are Port Lincoln on the southern point, Whyalla and Port Augusta at the north east, and Ceduna at the northwest. They are joined by the Eyre Highway across the inland edge, and the Flinders Highway and Lincoln Highway along the west and east coasts.
The major industry is farming - cereal crops, sheep, and cattle in the dry north area. More water-intensive farming such as dairy farming and growing wine industry happen in the south. Many coastal towns have commercial fishing. Port Lincoln had a large tuna fishing fleet, which is now changing to fish farming in bays along the coast. The Eyre Peninsula has a growing population of around 55,390 people.
There is a commercial nephrite jade mine near Cowell. Iron ore is mined in the hills near Iron Knob and taken by rail to Whyalla for smelting.
National Parks located on the Eyre Peninsula include Lincoln National Park, Coffin Bay National Park, Gawler Ranges National Park, and several conservation parks and reserves like Acraman Creek Conservation Park.
In January 2005, bushfires on the Eyre Peninsula killed nine people.
Transport
The peninsular is served by the isolated narrow gauge Eyre Peninsula Railway.
Eyre Peninsula Media
Eyre Peninsula towns and cities with a population of more than 500 (Australian census 2011)
Banded iron formation, South Middleback Range, Eyre Peninsula. Orangish-brown = quartz mixed with limonite. Silvery-gray = hematite.
Unusual herringbone crystals of evaporite gypsum, from Sinclairs Gap Lake, Middleback Range, Eyre Peninsula. Size: 10.8 x 9.8 x 6.0 cm.
Cage-diving with great white sharks is possible for tourists off Eyre Peninsula.
Murphy's Haystacks are a unique geological feature.
Highway map of South Australia, including highways on the Eyre Peninsula identified by their route number
Little penguins nest in Eyre Peninsula's coastal protected areas.
Bushfires on southern Eyre Peninsula in 2005
_(Lower_Middleback_Iron-Formation,_Paleoproterozoic,_1.81_or_1.859-1.945_Ga;_hillslope_3_km_west_of_Iron_Duke_Mine,_South_Middleback_Range,_Eyre_Peninsula,_South_Australia)_2_(15059380105).jpg)
References
- ↑ "Eyre Western SA Government region" (PDF). The Government of South Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ↑ "Far North SA Government Region" (PDF). Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
Other websites
 |
Wikivoyage has a travel guide about: Eyre Peninsula |
- Terraserver.com navigable satellite map of the Eyre Peninsula.[dead link]
- SouthAustralia.com Eyre Peninsula - Travel Guides, Accommodation, Online Booking Archived 2007-10-06 at the Wayback Machine