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Kangaroo Island Facts & Worksheets

Kangaroo Island lies off the mainland of South Australia, southwest of Adelaide. Over a third of the island is protected in nature reserves, home to native wildlife like sea lions, koalas and diverse bird species.

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Kangaroo Island lies off the mainland of South Australia, southwest of Adelaide. Over a third of the island is protected in nature reserves, home to native wildlife like sea lions, koalas and diverse bird species. In the west, Flinders Chase National Park is known for penguin colonies and striking coastal rock formations, like the sculpted Remarkable Rocks and the stalactite-covered Admirals Arch.

See the fact file below for more information on the Kangaroo Island or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Kangaroo Island worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

QUICK FACTS ABOUT KANGAROO ISLAND

  • Kangaroo Island is located off the south coast of Australia, in the Great Australian Bight, approximately 70 miles away from Adelaide.
  • Kangaroo Island is technically part of the state of South Australia.
  • It is the third largest island in Australia, after Tasmania and Melville Island.
  • The area of the island is approximately 1700 square miles, with 340 miles of coastline.
  • As of 2011, there are about 4500 people living on Kangaroo Island.
  • There are four main towns on Kangaroo Island:
    • Kingscote (the largest town on the island)
    • Penneshaw (where the ferries to the island arrive; east)
    • Parndana (centre of the island and the farming community)
    • American River (a small community on a bay)
  • The island’s highest point is Mount MacDonnell.
  • Kingscote has a population of about 2000 people.
  • Penneshaw has a population of about 300 people, and brings the necessary freight to sustain the local population (food, goods, etc.).
  • Parndana is home to about 150 people spread out within a few miles.
  • American River has about 200 people; it is between Kingscote and Penneshaw.
  • Kangaroo Island’s local government (which is the third tier of government in Australia which is administered by the states and territories under the federal tier) is called the Kangaroo Island Council.

HISTORY AND ECONOMY OF KANGAROO ISLAND

  • Kangaroo Island was separated by the rising sea levels that occurred after the last glacial period around 10,000 years ago.
  • Early Aboriginal tribes call Kangaroo Island “Karta”, also known as “Island of the Dead”.
  • According to archaeological evidence, which includes evidence of stone tools, Aboriginal people likely occupied Kangaroo Island about 16,000 years ago.
  • Matthew Flinders, a British explorer, named the land “Kangaroo Island” on March 23rd 1802 when he came across the island and noticed large populations of the endemic subspecies of the western grey kangaroo.
  • Flinders was closely followed by Nicolas Baudin, who was the first European to circumnavigate and map the majority of the island – this also explains why many places on Kangaroo Island have French names.
  • From 1802 until South Australia’s colonization in 1836, many sealers presided over Kangaroo Island and often treated the Aboriginal people on the island with disrespect and force, kidnapping women from neighboring islands and keeping both men and women as slaves.
  • In 1803, sealers built the schooner named “Independence” in the town of American River.
  • By the 1840s, many whaling stations were set up along the shores of Kangaroo Island, but also brought about many shipwrecks.
  • The majority of Kangaroo Island’s income is derived from tourism, fishing, and agriculture. Honey, wool, meat, grain, and grapes are the main crops that make money on Kangaroo Island.
  • Cattle farming and sheep grazing have been key in the island’s economy, as well as potatoes and canola more recently.
  • South Australia’s only eucalyptus oil distillery is located on Kangaroo Island and is a big hit for the island’s 186,000 yearly visitors.
  • Kangaroo Island is home to 30 wine growers and 12 wineries, and happily boasts itself as the world’s only purebred and disease-free population of Ligurian honey bees.
  • For tourists, the most popular places to visit on Kangaroo Island include:
    • Seal Bay Conservation Park
    • Little Sahara
    • Cape Willoughby
    • Kelly Hill Caves
    • Flinders Chase National Park
  • Kangaroo Island depends on a reliant ferry service to transport tourists as well as food and other goods to and from the island. In addition, direct flights are available to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide and Melbourne.

GEOGRAPHY OF KANGAROO ISLAND

  • Kangaroo Island has a Mediterranean climate, which means mild and wet winters between June and September, and warm, dry summers.
  • Nearly half of Kangaroo Island has never been cleared of vegetation; one-quarter of it is conserved in National Parks and other protected areas around the island.
  • Some animals you’re likely to find on Kangaroo Island include sea lions, kangaroos, southern brown bandicoot, the tammar wallaby, echidnas, koalas, and the platypus.
  • Many endemic and vulnerable birds live on Kangaroo Island and receive special protection from BirdLife International.
  • Little penguin colonies can be seen on the island as well, but their numbers are declining, which has prompted more monitoring.
  • Kangaroo Island offers many different tours and guided walks to witness the rare and beautiful wildlife on the island.

Kangaroo Island Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Kangaroo Island across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Kangaroo Island worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Kangaroo Island which lies off the mainland of South Australia, southwest of Adelaide. Over a third of the island is protected in nature reserves, home to native wildlife like sea lions, koalas and diverse bird species. In the west, Flinders Chase National Park is known for penguin colonies and striking coastal rock formations, like the sculpted Remarkable Rocks and the stalactite-covered Admirals Arch.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • The Flooding of Kangaroo Island
  • Opinion Piece
  • Remarkable Rocks
  • Fascinating Fossils
  • The Ligurian Honey Bee
  • Symbol Drawing
  • Kangaroo Island Wordsearch
  • Postcard from Kangaroo Island
  • Unscrambling Activity
  • Kangaroo Island Crossword

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Link will appear as Kangaroo Island Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 1, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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