Shipwrecks aground on Middleton Reef.
Middleton Reef is a coral reef in the Tasman Sea. It is separated by a deep oceanic pass some 45 km wide from nearby Elizabeth Reef, forming part of the Lord Howe Rise underwater plateau. Middleton Reef is around 220 km from Lord Howe Island and 555 km from the coast of New South Wales. In 1997 the Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Bill 1996 included Middelton Reef in Australia’s Coral Sea Islands Territory.This island is included also in Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs
Middleton Reef is a platform reef and is among the southernmost platform reefs in the world. However, despite its relatively high latitude, a wide variety of flora and fauna exists both on the island and in the surrounding waters. This is due to its location where tropical and temperate ocean currents converge.
Middleton reef is about 8.9 km long by 6.3 km wide and is usually submerged. However, at low tide most of the reef flat is exposed. At high tide only one cay on the reef is visible, at one metre above sea level. The cay is called The Sound and is 100 m by 70 m.
The reefs form the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Park Reserve managed by the Government of Australia under the Natural Heritage Trust.
Surveys by the Australian Institute of Marine Science have highlighted healthy number of Black Cod Epinephelus daemelii which is now a threatened species in NSW waters. The survey in 2003 highlighted some 111 species of coral and at the same time identified 181 species of fish. The total number of recorded fish species on the reef is 311 across several surveys. High numbers of Galapagos sharks Carcharhinus galapagensis were observed at Elizabeth Reef.
Posts tagged motor yacht
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Jun 09
Jun 09
Middleton Reef
Tasman Sea, Australia 29º26’52″S 159º05’01″E
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May 09
May 09
Lauryn Eagle
Manly, New South Whales, Australia 33º48’57″S 151º16’33″E
Lauryn Eagle attempted to be the first female to water ski continuously from Sydney to Newcastle and back in a record time of under three and a half hours.
Lauryn Eagle is an Australian water ski champion, stunning model (Miss Teen Australia 2004, miss Teen International 2004), Foxtel presenter and social and community entrepreneur.
13
May 09
May 09
Seafaris Ocean
Cairns, Queensland, Australia 16º54’46″S 146º00’65″E
A day onboard the luxurious motor yacht catamaran Seafaris Ocean for a gastronomic lunch prepared by Leon Walker from the Wink restaurant in Cairns, Queensland Australia.
