down under remixed
Australia and New Zealand represent an area that brings to mind "The ends of the Earth" I have been to international meetings where attendees from New Zealand represent the furthest distance traveled to attend. Global sea rise is likely to create the Australian Great Eyre Bay where semi aqueous Lake Eyre currently resides. Likewise, the Bass straight could rise and a joining with New Zealand could create the Zealand Sea.
An unusual (by normal planetary standards) condition exists in Australia. The animal life evolved a bit differently here than elsewhere on the planet. There are many types that fall outside the norm. Starfish are among them. One type, the crown of thorns, is almost all spines and is a huge destroyer of the Great Barrier Reef! For edification, they can be examined at
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~alreadman/aussie-pics.htm Unlike hiking on trails in North America, common insects can be quite deadly. Usually they are spiders and Caterpillars and are marked with livid red, orange and yellow markings.
Much of the life developed in isolation around the remote Indian Ocean. Species were cut off from the mainstream due to global shifting from the days of Pangaea and evolved in unusual ways. Marsupials (carry young in front pouch) are of special interest.
- The platypus has an actual duck bill and more amazingly a poisonous spine in its rear legs. They have not been known to be deadly (yet) but can cause a great deal of pain.
- Kangaroos and their lesser cousins (wallabies) are gifted with spring-loaded back legs which exhibit great jumping ability and agile maneuvering
Moving on to New Zealand, it is an island that has been defined as the visible remnants of a submerged continent. Movie producers desperate for outdoor sets for showcasing new and unique environments have discovered new Zealand as a backdrop to the Lord of the Rings.
Not to be outdone, film czars of The game of Thrones have identified New Zealand for its remaining two episodes of filming. It appears the exceptionally deep snowfalls of North Island dovetail nicely with the long winters on the mythical world of Westeros.
The area is slowly opening up. It's only in the last 15 years that the Kiwi fruit has claimed its name to fame. Other tropical produce is also coming to light there.
I find it exciting in a world of space exploration, the environment of our own planet is showing some surprises!
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Hi Mike, thank you for this great post. It is right up my alley (niche) Australian Opals, the legacy left behind by the mighty ancient Eromanga Sea.
Not sure when new Zealand broke away from Gondwana but research seems to think Tasmania was one of the last places to separate from Antarctica around 45 million years ago. So, it would seem, due to geographic location, that NZ would have split around the same period of time as Tasmania.
It is also interesting to note that we are still today finding hidden treasures beneath the depths of our oceans.
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5336246/underwater-volcanic-craters-and-reefs-found-off-wollongong-coast/
(Wollongong is only 76 km South of Sydney)
Thank you Brad for posting this.
I missed the news report on Wollongong & more details on the Great Barrier Reef.
As a Sydney "boy" I certainly knew of New Zealand being the shaky isles but not of the area off Wollongong. I like to remember the Barrier Reef in all it's glory, rather than the demise it is now suffering.
Denis
Hi Dave,
Here is a link that gives me hope. Not only for the GBR but for other reefs around the world that may be suffering..
https://reefrestorationfoundation.org/
I looked this over. It's fascinating. This is a part of the world in which discovery channels are still opening up!
It sure is fascinating Mike. We are currently in the Quaternary period of the Cenozoic era where we have 365 days a year. About a year ago I attended a lecture given by a paleontologist here in Sydney. The information given was amazing on how our Earth is continually changing, hence we have the different eras of time. In the Devonian era the Earth was rotating on its own axis 412 days a year, and at present is rotating slower at 365.25 days a year. Incredible stuff....
If I get enough money and time I would love to do this course https://www.une.edu.au/study/study-options/study-areas/biological-sciences/palaeontology
Mike great information. My twin has lived in New Zealand since 2002, and married a person of Māori ancestry. He lives on the south Island, and we are planning on our first trip to see him and the family this Christmas holiday. Hoping to also visit some in Australia while in the area. He is close to the sea. It will be exciting.
Thanks for the information.
It’s all perspective I guess. “The ends of the Earth” to you is home to me! I love our island home, despite travel being long haul. That said, I believe a greater proportion of Australians and New Zealanders have passports than our overseas neighbours.
A unique, diverse and fascinating place, Australia! Would like to see it sometime.
New Zealand, too, looks incredible. Thanks for the journey to "down under"!
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Wow thanks for the great journey to parts of the world that I have never seen.
Ray