Bunda cliffs

The Bunda Cliffs, seen from east of Eucla

The Bunda cliffs are part of a larger scarp of the Eucla Basin that spreads from the western part of South Australia across to the south eastern corner of Western Australia. As a geographical feature, they form part of the longest uninterrupted line of sea cliffs in the world. No other continent or country can match the cliffs for length of coastline.

The Bunda cliffs is an aboriginal name [1] which has been used in South Australia for the name of the Nullarbor coastal cliffs. The usage is not included in national geographic name databases - but the usage is general in South Australia [2][3]

The Bunda cliffs extend for around 100 km along the Great Australian Bight near its northern extremity and are close to the Nullarbor Plain in a very sparsely settled area of Australia.

The cliffs, which are some 60 to 120 metres high and sheer, can be viewed from several viewing points along the Eyre Highway east of Eucla and west of Nullarbor roadhouse, although could be better appreciated from the air. A view of the cliffs can be had at 31°57′0″S 130°14′0″E / 31.95000°S 130.23333°E / -31.95000; 130.23333.

Geologically the cliffs are of Tertiary age and are composed of fossiliferous limestone. The same formation can be seen from Eucla to Madura, where it forms a scarp separating the Roe Plain from the Hampton Tableland, but in this section the coastline has moved away from the cliffs. The scarp in this area runs parallel to, and within sight of, the Eyre Highway.

A Western Australia section of the Bunda Cliffs, the Baxter Cliffs, are at a location identified by Geosciences Australia.[4] They are named after a companion of the explorer Edward John Eyre. John Baxter was murdered there by two Aboriginals from Eyre's exploration party in April 1841.

Meanwhile, the name Bunda is not found at the Geosciences Australia website at all, however Bunda Plateau is found as an alternative name for the Nullarbor Plain on the South Australian side of the Nullarbor Plain [5]

Notes

  1. ↑ http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/60616/20060713-0000/www.wangkawilurrara.com/yalata/formations.html
  2. ↑ http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/86202/20081007-1101/www.premier.sa.gov.au/news45d3.html
  3. ↑ http://www.placenames.sa.gov.au bunda, according to tate, is the name given to the cliffs by the aboriginal people. located north and north-west of the great australian bight. (Rack Plan 418 / Royal Geographical Society Proceedings Vol 19 Pg 128)
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 2010-05-09. BAXTER CLIFFS -32 35 125 21
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 2010-05-09. 30° 51' S [Decimal Degrees -30.863°] 130° 21' E [Decimal Degrees 130.362°]

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