Shark Bay: Hamelin Pool, Denham & Eagle Bluff

Tiny cockle shells used to build pillars...

We have now entered the Shark Bay World Heritage Drive*****. Listed as world heritage in 1991, it is 130km drive commencing from the Overlander Roadhouse to Monkey Mia. There are four criteria of why Shark Bay is listed as World Heritage: 

1) Natural Beauty

2) Earth History. Shark Bay is home to the stromatolites, rock like structures built by microbes that existed on Earth 3.5 billion years ago which is visible at Hamelin Pool.

Hamelin Pool***** It was through oxygen generating activity of stromatolites that other animal life was able to develop, because 3.5 billion years back, the earth has little or no oxygen at all... How amazing... =)

This bronze coloured rock is also stromatolites, only dead...

The inhabitants of these water... 

The saline level in Hamelin pool is really high, twice as high (as salty) as the usual sea water. Most living animals which feed on bacteria and algae of which stromatolites are composed cannot tolerate such saline condition. That's why stromatolites can grow undisturbed here...

Some small fishes adapt to the saline level of the pool..

3) Biological Diversity, Shark Bay is the home for numerous endangered plants and animals.I.e. Shark Bay Mouse, Western barred bandicoot, Greater Bilby, Rufous Hare Wallaby, Banded Hare Wallaby, Dugong, Whale Shark, Malleefowl and few others on the list.

At Eagle Bluff Lookout***** we saw this Dugong (also known as the Sea Cow) at the shallow water. It just stay quite still to eat the sea grass... Shark Bay has the world's largest population of Dugong. It is really a good lookout because we saw the dugong, dolphin, turtle and sting rays! Although quite far up, we can see the big marine animals clearly because the water is quite shallow.

4) Ecological Processes. Shark Bay's vast seagrass meadows have influenced the physical, chemical, biological and geomorphic evolution of the marine environment. Sediments trapped by the seagrass have formed banks and sills, affecting tidal flow which combined with hot climate, have created areas of super concentrated salinity. This resulted the emergence of salt tolerant animals and also creation of stromatolites.


Small town of Denham... Visitor centre is located here. There are few free camping areas around Shark Bay, permit must be obtained from the visitor center either through phone booking or call in at their center. Little sites available, so it's first come first serve basis.

After Eagle Bluff, we went to camp at Whalebone Road. We booked this campsite earlier at the Denham Visitor Centre. There are no facilities at all, but very nice windy sunset by the beach to accompany us :) There is a ranger that patrols around the camping area, ensuring no unauthorized camps!

ac

Dinner in the tent....!

NEXT: The Shark BAy world heritage drive continues.....