Eyre Peninsula
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Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by Matthew Flinders in 1801-1802. The west coast was also visited by Nicolas Baudin at around the same time.
The main towns are Port Lincoln on the southern point, Whyalla and Port Augusta at the north east, and Ceduna at the northwest. They are connected by the Eyre Highway across the inland edge, and the Flinders Highway and Lincoln Highway along the west and east coasts.
The major industry is farming - cereal crops, sheep, and cattle in the drier north and more water-intensive activities such as dairy farming and a growing wine industry in the south. Many coastal towns have commercial fishing, in particular Port Lincoln, had a large tuna-fishing fleet, which is gradually being converted to fish farming in bays along the coast.
There is a commercial nephrite jade mine near Cowell. Iron ore is mined in the hills near Iron Knob inland from Whyalla, to where it is transported by rail for smelting.
National Parks located on the Eyre peninsula include Lincoln National Park, Coffin Bay National Park, Gawler Ranges National Park, and several conservation parks and reserves like Acraman Creek Conservation Park.
In January 2005, the Eyre Peninsula was the site of Australia's deadliest bushfire in 20 years, killing 9 people.
[edit] External links
- Terraserver.com navigable satellite map of the Eyre Peninsula.
- Eyre Peninsula travel guide from Wikitravel
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State of South Australia |
|---|---|
| Topics |
History | Education | Politics | People | Transport | Authorities | Administrative divisions | Towns |
| Capital | Adelaide |
| Regions |
Adelaide Hills | Barossa Valley | Clare Valley | Eyre Peninsula | Fleurieu Peninsula | Flinders Ranges | Limestone Coast | Nullarbor Plain | Riverland | Yorke Peninsula |
| Adelaide |
City of Adelaide | City of Burnside | City of Campbelltown | City of Charles Sturt | Town of Gawler | City of Holdfast Bay | City of Marion | City of Mitcham | City of Norwood Payneham St Peters | City of Onkaparinga | City of Playford | City of Port Adelaide Enfield | City of Prospect | City of Salisbury | City of Tea Tree Gully | City of Unley | City of West Torrens | Town of Walkerville |
| Cities |
Adelaide | Port Augusta | Mount Gambier | Murray Bridge | Port Pirie | Whyalla |
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