Recently, an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 on the Richter scale jolted the west of Macquarie Island. Earthquakes in this region are linked to the movement of the Indo-Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, and such seismic events can have profound effects on the local environment and ecosystems.
Macquarie Island is located in the Pacific Ocean, around 1,500 km southeast of Tasmania, Australia. It is situated about halfway between Australia and Antarctica, and is notable for its unique geological and ecological significance.
Size: The island is about 34 km long (21 miles) and 5 km wide (3 miles).
Population: No humans live on the island permanently today.
Macquarie Island sits on the exposed crest of the undersea Macquarie Ridge. This ridge marks the point where the Indo-Australian tectonic plate meets the Pacific plate.
It is one of the only places on Earth where rocks from the Earth's mantle (about 6 km below the ocean floor) are being actively exposed above sea level.
This unique geological feature makes the island a site of major geoconservation significance.
Macquarie Ridge: The ridge is one of only three such ridges that impede the Antarctic Circumpolar Circulation, causing significant oceanographic and ecological effects. This creates distinct differences between the west and east sides of the ridge, which influence the behavior of various species.
Vegetation: Although the island is treeless, it hosts a variety of native vegetation, including grasses and numerous species of moss. The island also contains a few small glacial lakes.
Fauna: Macquarie Island is known for its abundant and unique wildlife. It is home to:
4 species of penguins
4 species of albatross
A recorded 57 species of seabirds
Regionally, Macquarie Island is part of Oceania, but politically, it is a part of Tasmania, Australia.
It became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978.
In 1997, the island was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique geological and ecological significance.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
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