Shark Bay

Shark Bay
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Shark Bay, covering an area of 23,000 square kilometres, is an area of major zoological importance. It is home to about 10,000 dugongs (sea cows), and there are many dolphins. The area supports 26 threatened Australian mammal species, over 230 species of bird, and nearly 150 species of reptile. It is an important breeding and nursery ground for fishes, crustaceans, and coelenterates. There are 323 fish species, with many sharks and rays.

Shark Bay also has the largest known area of seagrass, with seagrass meadows covering over 4000 kmē of the bay. It includes the 1030 kmē Wooramel Seagrass Bank, the largest seagrass bank in the world. Shark Bay also contains the largest number of seagrass species ever recorded in one place; twelve species have been found, with up to nine occurring together in some places.

At Hamelin Pool in the south of the bay, living microbes are building stromatolites that are over 3000 years old. The Hamelin Pool contains the most diverse and abundant examples of stromatolite forms in the world.

Year Decision Comments
1991 Inscribed Reasons for inscription

Reviews

Kang Chong (Malaysia):
I must agree, of all the WHC sites that I visited while I was in Australia, this was the most disappointing. The dolphin feeding session is DEFINITELY NOT worth the trip. But as a consolation, some of the beaches there were really beautiful.And if you get a chance, the exciting 4WD adventures around the white sandy "deserts" and sand surfing is really fun!
Date posted: October 2005
Steve (Australia):
Travelled to Shark Bay on a 4WD backpackers tour up the west coast of Western Australia from Perth to Coral Bay in April 2002.

The most publicised aspect of Shark Bay is the Dolphin feeding at Monkey Mia however I found it personally dissapointing. The half hour "show" involves three rather domesticated dolphins. Much rather see dolphins in the wild.

Some of the coastline contrasts dry red and ochre cliffs with turquoise blue waters.

A good place to stay is at the camping ground at Nanga on the freycinet Peninsula.
 


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