Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park
National park in Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michaelmas and Upolu Cays is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 1,409 km (876 mi) north-northwest of Brisbane and 33 km (21 mi) east of Cairns. It comprises two small cays on Michaelmas Reef, which forms the north-eastern section of the Arlington reef complex, within the Great Barrier Reef.
| Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park | |
|---|---|
Michaelmas Cay | |
  Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park | |
| Location | Queensland |
| Nearest city | Cairns |
| Coordinates | 16°36′30″S 145°58′21″E |
| Area | 30 km2 (12 sq mi) |
| Established | 1975 |
| Governing body | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Official website |
Flora and fauna
Plants
The vegetation on Michaelmas Cay is characteristic of cays found on the outer barrier reef. Low-growing, it consists of beach spinifex, stalky grass, goatsfoot, bulls-head vine, sea purslane and tar vine. Nutrients fertilising the vegetation come from seabird droppings and carcasses. The smaller Upolu Cay is un-vegetated.[1]
Animals
Michaelmas Cay is important as a breeding site for several species of terns. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports over 1% of the world populations of greater and lesser crested terns.[2] Sooty terns and common noddies also breed there. Other terns that have nested on the cay in the past include roseate and black-naped terns.[3]
Green turtles sometimes nest on the cays. The surrounding reefs have a rich marine fauna, including giant clams.[1]
