Cape Borda

Description

Cape Borda is located in the gazetted locality of Cape Borda about 70 km west of Kingscote. It is the most north westerly point of the Kangaroo Island coast. It is the termination for a pair of coastlines – the western coastline extending from Cape du Couedic in the south and the northern coastline extending from Point Marsden in the east. It is described as ‘a bold cliffy headland, 61 m high’ with ‘the upper half of the cliff is formed of white limestone, and the lower half is very dark volcanic rock’ and that ‘the hills at the cape rise to a height of more than 152 m and are covered with small scrub.’

Formation, geology & oceanography

Cape Borda was formed when the sea reached its present level 7,500 years ago after sea levels started to rise at the start of the Holocene. The cliff line which includes Cape Borda consists of base strata of a metasandstone belonging to the Kanmantoo group bedrock such as Middleton Sandstone and Balquhidder Formation, overlaid by a relatively thick capping of Bridgewater Formation calcarenite rock. The water adjoining the cliff face at Cape Borda drops to depths ranging between 20 m to 30 m.

History

Aboriginal use

By 1999, the literature had not cited any archaeological discoveries specific to Aboriginal use of land in the immediate vicinity of Cape Borda.

European discovery

Cape Borda was named in January 1803 by the Baudin expedition of 1800-03 in the memory of Jean-Charles de Borda (1733–1799), the French mathematician, physicist, naturalist and sailor.

Navigation aid

The lighthouse at Cape Borda was the third of three provided for by legislation; the others being erected at Cape Willoughby and Troubridge Shoals (now called Troubridge Island). The light was officially lit on 13 July 1858 and was named the ‘Flinders Light’ in August 1858 in memory of Matthew Flinders.

Fauna

The coast near the Cape Borda lighthouse previously supported colonies of little penguins which are now believed to be extinct. Causes for local extinction are likely to include (but not be limited to) predation by increasing New Zealand fur seal populations and changes in prey availability.

Protected area status

Cape Borda is currently located within the protected area known as the Flinders Chase National Park. As of 2012, the waters surrounding its shores are part of a sanctuary zone located within the boundaries of the Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park.

Climate

| Jan record high C = 39.0 | Feb record high C = 37.9 | Mar record high C = 34.0 | Apr record high C = 29.2 | May record high C = 24.8 | Jun record high C = 20.4 | Jul record high C = 20.0 | Aug record high C = 22.0 | Sep record high C = 26.5 | Oct record high C = 32.6 | Nov record high C = 34.4 | Dec record high C = 37.0 | year record high C = 39.0 | Jan avg record high C = | Feb avg record high C = | Mar avg record high C = | Apr avg record high C = | May avg record high C = | Jun avg record high C = | Jul avg record high C = | Aug avg record high C = | Sep avg record high C = | Oct avg record high C = | Nov avg record high C = | Dec avg record high C = | year avg record high C = | Jan avg record low C = | Feb avg record low C = | Mar avg record low C = | Apr avg record low C = | May avg record low C = | Jun avg record low C = | Jul avg record low C = | Aug avg record low C = | Sep avg record low C = | Oct avg record low C = | Nov avg record low C = | Dec avg record low C = | year avg record low C = | Jan record low C = 6.1 | Feb record low C = 8.0 | Mar record low C = 7.2 | Apr record low C = 6.7 | May record low C = 3.3 | Jun record low C = 1.8 | Jul record low C = 2.2 | Aug record low C = 2.2 | Sep record low C = 2.8 | Oct record low C = 3.3 | Nov record low C = 4.1 | Dec record low C = 6.0 | year record low C = 1.8

References

References

1. {{cite enroute. 175. 2017. 212
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3. "The Waters of South Australia a series of charts, sailing notes and coastal photographs". Dept. of Marine and Harbors, South Australia.
4. "A Biological Survey of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 1989 & 1990". Heritage and Biodiversity Section, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia.
5. Fairclough, Martin C. (December 2007). "KINGSCOTE Special 1:250 000 geological map". Government of South Australia, DMITRE.
6. "A Biological Survey of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 1989 & 1990". Heritage and Biodiversity Section, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia.
7. Robinson, A. C.. (1996). "South Australia's offshore islands". Australian Heritage Commission.
8. (4 January 1855). "SIR H. E. F. YOUNG.". Colonial Times.
9. (23 July 1858). "Cape Borda Lighthouse, Kangaroo Island – Notice to Mariners". The Argus.
10. (30 July 1858). "Cape Borda Lighthouse". South Australian Register.
11. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4973685 "The Ornithologists' Camp. Interesting and successful research."] ''The Advertiser'', South Australia (1905-10-25). Retrieved 2014-03-12.
12. Wiebkin, A. S. (2011) [http://www.amlrnrm.sa.gov.au/Portals/2/Coast/Reports/FINAL%20for%20web%20-%20penguin%20report%2013-9-11.pdf Conservation management priorities for little penguin populations in Gulf St Vincent. Report to Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board.] {{webarchive. link. (22 February 2014 ''South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)'', Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2011/000188-1. SARDI Research Report Series No.588. 97pp.)
13. (1999). "Flinders Chase National Park, Kelly Hill Conservation Park, Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area and Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area Management Plans". Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs.
14. "Western Kangaroo Island Park Management plan summary". Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.
15. "Climate Data Online".