Botany Bay - a place worth visiting

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Have you ever heard of such an amazing place as Botany Bay? To be honest, despite all the uniqueness and uniqueness of this corner of the planet, it can hardly be called a favorite and popular place for Russians to relax. Why? Most likely, due to its some remoteness from well-known tourist destinations. In fact, getting here is not very easy. Although there are positive aspects to this. Arriving at the coast, you can enjoy plenty of peace and quiet.

This article will not only tell about where the Botany Bay itself is located, but also acquaint readers with the characteristic features of this place, its history, climate.

General description of the object

First of all, it should be noted that you will not be able to find the Botanical Bay on the map of Eurasia. It is located 8 km south of the center of Sydney, off the east coast of Australia, belongs to the Tasman Sea. The bay is quite modest in size.

As you know, Botany Bay opened in1770 by the famous conqueror of the seas James Cook. This place got its name thanks to the many plants unknown to Europeans growing near its shores.

It was in Botany in 1787 that the first settlement of immigrants from Europe was formed in Australia. However, the next year it was moved to Port Jackson Bay, where the center of Sydney is currently located.

The depth of the Botanical Bay is 18-31 m, and the width is 2.2 km. The Georges and Cook rivers flow into it. Also on the territory of the bay is the port of Botany, and it is inhabited by approximately 35 thousand people.

Discovery history

So, we figured out where Botany Bay is, but I would like to know more about the nuances of its past.

On April 29, 1770, a ship called the Endeavor anchored in the waters of Botany Bay. It was here that the British first landed on the coast of an unknown continent, and at the same time the bay was called Botanical.

The team of Captain James Cook, who went in search of a previously unknown southern mainland, consisted of a botanist named Joseph Banks. The picture of dozens of plants that opened up to him, which were unknown to the science of that time, amazed him so much that he effortlessly persuaded Cook to give this beautiful place such a name. And since then, the bay has been called Botanical Bay, which in English sounds like Botany Bay.

Eighteen years later, ships of the first English fleet anchored in this place underunder the command of Arthur Philip. It was here that the first batch of convicts was delivered, and a few days later the well-known Marquis de La Perouse appeared here. But since he sailed from these places, no one else has ever seen him alive.

Botany Bay: tragic events

In 1788, the first so-called British settlements appeared in New South Wales on the territory of the future Sydney. The colony was mostly inhabited by soldiers and convicts.

One day one of the convicts went in search of herbs and moved far enough away from the brick ovens located in Rose Hill. Later it turned out that he was killed by Australian Aborigines. Sixteen members of the gang to which the victim belonged armed with sticks and went to Botany Bay to take revenge.

On arrival at the bay, they came across a lot of aborigines of the Gamaraigal tribe, who attacked them with spears. As a result, one person was killed and six or seven were injured. A day later, the colony's governor, known as Captain Arthur Phillip, sent Marines there to restore order. At the scene of the battle, infantrymen found the body of one killed exile and one wounded. All the exiles were punished for not fulfilling Philip's order of good treatment of the local natives. They received 150 lashes each immediately after their recovery.

Climate of the area

The climate in this corner of the globe is warm, reminiscent of the Mediterranean.

Botany Bay, the map shows it in the best possible way, is famous forcharacterized by warm summers and mild winters. The number of sunny days per year is more than 340.

There is even rainfall throughout the year. The average summer temperature is around 26°C. High humidity is also possible at this time of year, averaging 65%.

In winter, the average temperature is approximately 16°C. The rainiest period in the bay is between March and June.

What is Botany Bay doing today?

Today, Sydney's airport sits on the northern shore of this site, with the airport's runway leading straight out to the bay. Also here is the port of the same name.

The tides here are semi-diurnal and are about 2.3 m.

Population - only 35,000 people, most of whom make a living either by fishing or tourism. There are enough people who want to visit this place. As a rule, they are attracted to the Botanical Bay by the amazing flora and fauna.