The Spencer Gulf

The Spencer Gulf is located on the south coast of Australia in the westernmost of two large inlets. It was first discovered in 1802 by Matthew Flinders. By 1830 Port Lincoln had developed to a settlement and a whale hunting site. The Spencer Gulf is 200 miles long and has a width of 80 miles at its mouth. The Spencer Gulf covers the area from Cape Catastrophe and Eyre Peninsula in the west to area around Cape Spencer and Yorke Peninsula in the east. The biggest towns on the gulf include Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Pirie and Port Augusta while the smaller ones are Tumby Bay, Port Neill, Arno Bay, Cowell, and Port Hughes among others.

The Spencer Gulf Facts for Kids

The Spencer Gulf Facts include:

• Spencer Gulf has some marine parks on its land which are against fishing activities in the Sanctuary Zones. The marine parks include the Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park, Franklin Harbor Marine Park, Eastern Spencer Gulf Marine Park and the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park.
• The Spencer Gulf is a home of several islands which include Curlew Island, Weeroona Island, Shag Island, Entrance Island, Bird Islands, Lipson Island, and Tumby Island among others.
• Spencer Gulf is a residential area for several terrestrial reserves and contains three significant bird locations. The Spencer Gulf Important Bird Area is on its north-eastern coast. The location comprises of mangroves, marshes of salt, mudflats and provides protection to shorebird habitats.
• There exists a single thermal seawater desalination plant which draws water from the Spencer Gulf. There also exist one reverse osmosis plant.
• Numerous mineral deposits have been discovered in Spencer Bay which have stimulated several harbor and port development proposals. Such ports include Port Bonython, Whyalla, Port Pirie, Lucky Bay, Myponie Point, Cape Hardy and Lipson Cove.
• The Spencer Gulf is separated from Gulf St. Vincent by the Yorke Peninsula.
• The water in the Spencer Gulf is under the control of the Australian government.
• The South Australian government declared four aquatic reserves which include Blanche Harbor-Douglas Bank Aquatic Reserve which is on the west of Spencer Gulf. This reserve was declared in 1980, the second one is the Goose Island Aquatic Reserve which is on the east of Spencer Gulf in Goose Island close to Port Victoria and was declared in 1971.The third one is Whyalla- Cowleds Landing Aquatic Reserve which is on the west of Spencer Gulf just on to the south of Whyalla and was declared in 1980. Lastly there is the YatalaHarbor Upper Spencer Gulf which was declared in 1980 and is on the north of Port Pirie.
• The Spencer Gulf is one of the most crucial development area of Australia.
• The upper part of the Spencer is popular for its snapper and Yellowtail kingfish fishing.
• The Northern Spencer is located in a warm temperature surrounding characterized by small rainfall amounts and high rate of evaporation which have resulted in high salinities.
• The Spencer Gulf is one of the Indian Ocean inlets which is usually triangular.
• The islands of the Spencer Gulf are the breeding sites for little penguins.
• The sea lions found in the Spencer Gulf search for food in the floor of the gulf.

Question: How was Spencer Gulf formed?

Answer: Spencer Gulf was formed as a result of splitting of a large land mass Pangaea into Gondwana and Laurasia which was as an impact of tectonic activities.

The South Australian government as declared four aquatic reserves along Spencer Gulf including Blanche Harbour-Douglas Bank Aquatic Reserve, Goose Island Aquatic Reserve, Whyalla-Cowleds Landing Aquatic Reserve, and YatalaHarbour Upper Spencer Gulf Aquatic Reserve.