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Phillip Island Pinnacles : Summer, late morning . . .

The Pinnacles are located at the tip of Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island. About 360 million years ago, molten rock forced its way up from the earth's core. It cooled very slowly beneath the ground, forming the pinkish brown granite which is Cape Woolamai's foundation. The granite was exposed as the mountains above wore down due to weathering and wave action. The granite extends down to an unknown depth below sea level. The Pinnacles we now see are the result of cracks which formed as the rock was cooling and shrinking. They have been further sculptured by rain and wave action.

 

The texture of the formation is beautifully appreciated in the late morning sun. The blue sea beyond and to the left is Bass Strait. To the right is Woolamai Surf Beach.

 

Phillip Island, also known as Corriong or Millowl in the Boonwurrung language, is an Australian island about 140 km south-southeast of Melbourne, Victoria. The island is named after Governor Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales, by explorer and seaman George Bass, who sailed in an open whale boat, arriving from Sydney on 5 January 1798.

 

Phillip Island forms a natural breakwater for the shallow waters of the Western Port. It is 26 km long and 9 km wide, with an area of about 100 km2. It has 97 km of coastline and is part of the Bass Coast Shire.

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Uploaded on December 6, 2020
Taken on December 4, 2020