Christmas Island (Tasmania)
The Christmas Island, part of the New Year Group, is a 63.49-hectare (156.9-acre) granite island located in the Great Australian Bight, lying off the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia.[1][2][3] According to the International Hydrographic Organization, the line separating Bass Strait from the Great Australian Bight runs through King Island, so Christmas Island lies in the Great Australian Bight.
 Christmas Island, located top left, relative to King Island | |
  Christmas Island Location of Christmas Island in the Bass Strait | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Roaring Forties, Bass Strait |
| Coordinates | 39°40′48″S 143°49′12″E |
| Archipelago | New Year Group |
| Area | 63.49 ha (156.9 acres) |
| Administration | |
Australia | |
| State | Tasmania |
| LGA | Municipality of King Island |
The island forms part of the King Island Important Bird Area because of its importance for breeding seabirds and waders.[4]
Fauna
Breeding seabird and shorebird species include little penguin, short-tailed shearwater, Pacific gull, silver gull, sooty oystercatcher, pied oystercatcher and black-faced cormorant. Reptiles include tiger snakes and lizards. A species of mouse is present.[3]
References
- "Christmas Island (TAS)". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.
- "Travel: King Island". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
- Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; Halley, Vanessa (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Hobart: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. pp. 47–49. ISBN 0-7246-4816-X.
- BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: King Island. Downloaded from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 July 2007. Retrieved 2013-05-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) on 2011-07-16.
