Special WA place recognised
On the most north-western tip of Australia lies a very special area.
Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range have been evolving for millions of years and now it seems man has finally begun to realise their unique value.
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This remote part of WA was awarded World Heritage listing late last month by UNESCO.
Ningaloo coast's recognition as a place of outstanding natural importance will put this pristine, sparsely populated area on the map as a global travel destination.
Ningaloo Reef is unique for several reasons. It is a 260km continuous stretch of coral reef that is one of the world's best.
It is unusually accessible from the coast - you can step off the beach, swim a few metres and see an abundance of marine life.
The North West Cape's remote location and lack of development has enabled Ningaloo Reef to remain one of the most world's most pristine reefs.
This is at a time when three- quarters of the world's coral reefs are now threatened with destruction by human activity, according to research by the World Resources Institute.
Marine biologist Tyrone Ridgway, who heads up the Ningaloo Atlas, an online research resource dedicated to the reef, says it rivals the Great Barrier Reef in terms of beauty and diversity of coral and fish.
"Ningaloo is further blessed with healthy populations of marine turtles, rays, manta rays, sharks, dugongs, dolphins, and whales," he says.
"That said, Ningaloo Reef is perhaps most famous for the large aggregations of whale sharks that frequent the area during May to September."
The World Heritage listing adds a global level of protection, recognition and scrutiny to Ningaloo Marine Park and Cape Range National Park in addition to existing Australian laws.
The marine park bursts with life, from the biggest fish in the world (the whale shark) to the small but brightly-coloured nudibranch.
This time of year is perfect to see most of these species as they come together to enjoy the temperate and nutrient-rich waters of Ningaloo Reef.
In the deeper waters on the back of the reef, humpback whales breach among manta rays, turtles and dugongs and dolphins are spotted daily.
The coast is home to more than 300 species of coral - an enormous diversity greater than any other World Heritage site in the Indian Ocean. There are also 600 species of crustacean, 738 species of reef fish and 20 species of whales and dolphins.
Add the North West Cape's year-round summer climate and there are plenty of reasons to visit this beautiful area.
The cape is blessed with a dry climate, with hot summers and mild winters. It rains on an average of 26 days a year - mostly between May and July - and there is an average of four cloudy days a month.
While the area remains a pristine natural paradise, there is another side of the coin.
Just as the oceans and land are nutrient-rich, they are also plentiful with resources.
Over the past few years, the oil, gas and mining industries have ramped up around the North West Cape.
Dozens of oil rigs and gas plants are dotted in the coastal waters. As the sun sets, burn-off flames can be seen from the coast beyond Ningaloo Reef.
And another will be added after Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke approved an application by oil giant Shell to do exploratory drilling at the Palta-1 well 50km from Ningaloo Marine Park.
It is the latest project in the pipeline for the area. There are already five fully developed oil and gas projects at the northern tip of the cape, less than 50km from the World Heritage area.
Those who love Ningaloo Reef fear one mistake on these rigs could spell the death of this special place and hope that regulation, along with the new World Heritage listing, will go some way to protect it.
