On This Day: 14th March 2014
Two photos for this 14th day of March, 2014. Almost the entire coast of Norfolk Island is sheer and rugged cliffs. I took this photo on a morning walk in Norfolk Island National Park, and carefully framed it with a Norfolk Island pine, the reason the English claimed the island in the first place. They assumed the pines would replace the timber previously acquired from their north American colonies. In fact, Norfolk Island pines were wholly unsuitable for ship building, such is the folly of greed.
The disaster didn't stop there, when the penal settlement was established on the island and land clearing began, they discovered a thin layer of soil over what is a volcanic outcrop. The soil was not fertile and not suited to growing crops, consequently much of it was washed away due to deforestation.
Unable to grow crops, the settlers turned to eating the wildlife, until there were none left. A pristine uninhabited South Pacific island raped and ruined for no good purpose, while untold and unnecessary misery was inflicted on those sent there against their will and better judgement.
Incredible as it may sound, the folly, mismanagement and maladministration continues to this very day, but that's a story for another time.
On This Day: 14th March 2014
Two photos for this 14th day of March, 2014. Almost the entire coast of Norfolk Island is sheer and rugged cliffs. I took this photo on a morning walk in Norfolk Island National Park, and carefully framed it with a Norfolk Island pine, the reason the English claimed the island in the first place. They assumed the pines would replace the timber previously acquired from their north American colonies. In fact, Norfolk Island pines were wholly unsuitable for ship building, such is the folly of greed.
The disaster didn't stop there, when the penal settlement was established on the island and land clearing began, they discovered a thin layer of soil over what is a volcanic outcrop. The soil was not fertile and not suited to growing crops, consequently much of it was washed away due to deforestation.
Unable to grow crops, the settlers turned to eating the wildlife, until there were none left. A pristine uninhabited South Pacific island raped and ruined for no good purpose, while untold and unnecessary misery was inflicted on those sent there against their will and better judgement.
Incredible as it may sound, the folly, mismanagement and maladministration continues to this very day, but that's a story for another time.