What is special about the Wet Tropics?
What is special about the Wet Tropics?
The Wet Tropics provides the only habitat for numerous rare species of plants and animals. The Wet Tropics rainforests contain an almost complete record of the major stages in the evolution of plant life on earth. Many rainforest species originated when Australia was still part of Gondwana.
How old is the Wet Tropics of Queensland?
Roam the World’s oldest tropical rainforest The Wet Tropics is 80 million years older than the Amazon, a vast swathe of pristine wilderness running from Cooktown in the state’s far north to Townsville in the south.
How was the Wet Tropics of Queensland formed?
Some volcanic rocks formed in the southern and western parts of the Wet Tropics about 250 million years ago when lava erupted onto the surface of the land and cooled quickly. The lava cooled to form a dense layer of basalt.
What animals live in the Wet Tropics of Queensland?
They include unique green possums, ringtail possums, quolls, rare bats, tree-kangaroos, a rat-kangaroo, a melomys and an antechinus.
What can you do in the wet tropics of Queensland?
There are many diverse way to experience the rainforest. Swim, paddle and explore crystal-clear rivers, volcanic lakes, and spectacular waterfalls surrounded by Wet Tropics rainforests on the tropical Atherton Tablelands, a short drive west of Cairns.
What type of rainforest is the Wet Tropics region?
tropical rainforests
Wet Tropics of Queensland. This area, which stretches along the north-east coast of Australia for some 450 km, is made up largely of tropical rainforests.
How hot is it in the rain forest?
Temperature. The rainforest biome remains warm all year and must stay frost-free. The average daily temperatures range from 20°C (68°F) to 25°C (77°F).
Why do sloths have long arms?
Some sloths stay in the same tree for years. Their huge hooked claws and long arms allow them to spend most of their time hanging upside-down from trees. This disguises them as part of a tree so that its enemies like the jaguar do not see them.
How big is the Daintree rainforest?
At around 2,600 km2 (1,000 sq mi), The Daintree is the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest on the Australian continent. Along the coastline north of the Daintree River, tropical rainforest grows right down to the edge of the sea.
What type of rainforest is the Queensland Wet Tropics region?
This area, which stretches along the north-east coast of Australia for some 450 km, is made up largely of tropical rainforests.
Why is Queensland so wet?
The majority of Queensland’s rainfall occurs in summer (December-February). Far North Queensland receives 800- 1200 mm during this season, most of which comes from the monsoon winds bringing tropical moisture from ocean to land.
What is the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area?
The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area is a very special place. Here you can find a collection of facts and figures about its size, history, management, climate and the wonderful plants and animals that live there.
Is the Wet Tropics Australia’s most biodiverse area?
Despite the Wet Tropics only taking up 0.2 per cent of Australia’s land mass, it’s habitat to more than a quarter of the marsupial species in the country – a factoid worthy of professor Stephen Williams labelling the Southern Atherton area “the most biodiverse location in Australia”.
What can you find in the Wet Tropics?
More than just marsupials, The Wet Tropics has plenty of winged creatures in its habitat – in particular, 58 per cent of all Australian bat species, 58 per cent of the butterfly species and 40 per cent of bird species.
How many species of animals live in the Wet Tropics?
One quarter of Australia’s rodent species are found within the Wet Tropics. 113 species of reptiles including 24 endemic species are found in the area and there are 51 amphibian species, of which 22 are endemic.
