Editing Cape Range National Park

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = protected
| name                   = Cape Range National Park
| state                  = wa
| image                  = exmouth_caperange_landscapee.jpg
| caption                = Cape Range Landscape
| image_alt              = 
| map_type = nomap
| local_map   = yes
| zoom        = 8
| coordinates            = {{coord|22|07|24|S|113|55|14|E|display=inline,title}}
| relief                 = yes
| map_alt                = 
| established            = 1965
| area                   = 476.55
| area_footnotes         = <ref name="ParkAreas">{{cite journal|year=2010 |title=Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report |journal=Annual Report |pages=48 |publisher=Department of Environment and Conservation |issn=1835-114X |url=http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6139/2345/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111124319/http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6139/2345/ |archive-date=11 January 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>
| url                    = parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/cape-range
| iucn_category          = II
| nearest_town_or_city   = [[Exmouth, Western Australia|Exmouth]] 
| established_footnotes  = 
| visitation_num         = 
| visitation_year        = 
| visitation_footnotes   = 
| managing_authorities   = Parks and Wildlife Service, [[Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions]]
}}
'''Cape Range National Park ''' is a national park in the [[Gascoyne]] region of [[Western Australia]], {{convert|1105|km|mi|0}} north of [[Perth]]. The park occupies the western side of the [[North West Cape]] peninsula over an area of {{convert|47655|ha}}. The nearest town is [[Exmouth, Western Australia|Exmouth]], and directly off the coast is the [[Ningaloo Reef]]. The area resulted from a gradual uplifting from the sea floor followed by fluctuating sea levels, wind and water erosion that have slowly eroded the range and plain leaving behind a range of rugged [[limestone]], deep canyons, and pristine beaches.

There is also an eponymous [[Suburbs and localities (Australia)|locality]] of the [[Shire of Exmouth]], but the boundaries of the national park and the locality are not identical.<ref name=Slipmap >{{cite web |url=https://maps.slip.wa.gov.au/landgate/locate/ |title=SLIP Map |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=maps.slip.wa.gov.au |publisher=[[Landgate]] |access-date=25 September 2024 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/capad2022-terrestrial-wa.xlsx |title=Terrestrial CAPAD 2022 WA summary |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=www.dcceew.gov.au/ |publisher=[[Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water]] |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/dashboard |title=Australian Protected Areas Dashboard |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=www.dcceew.gov.au/ |publisher=[[Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water]] |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref>

==Overview==
The Cape is the only elevated [[plateau]] composed of limestone on the North West Coast. The range has plateaus to an elevation of {{convert|314|m|ft|0}} and forms the backbone of the [[peninsula]] which extends as far as [[North West Cape]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naturebase.net/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,1/Itemid,755/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070929083858/http://www.naturebase.net/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,1/Itemid,755/|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 September 2007|title=Department of Environment and Conservation - Parkfinder|year=2008|access-date=4 May 2010}}</ref>

Yardie Creek, a spectacular [[Canyon|gorge]] where the water is trapped by a [[sandbar]], is located within the park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australiannationalparks.com/westernaustralia/caperange/default.htm|title=Australian National Parks|year=2008|access-date=2 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204170033/http://www.australiannationalparks.com/westernaustralia/caperange/default.htm|archive-date=4 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Over 700 caves are located within the park and it is probable that many others remain undiscovered.
Over 630 species of wildflower are found within the park, that generally bloom toward the end of winter, including the [[Crotalaria cunninghamii|bird flower]] and the [[Swainsona formosa|desert sturt pea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exmouthwa.com.au/pages/cape-range-national-park/|title=Exmouth Visitor Centre -Cape Range National Park|year=2008|access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref>

The area was under [[pastoral lease]] beginning in 1876 when J Brockman acquired leases in the area covering North West Cape to run cattle. Brockman sold parts of the lease in 1888 to [[ornithologist]] Thomas Carter including [[Yardie Creek Station|Yardie Creek]] and [[Ningaloo Station]]. Carter was the first settler in the area and established a pastoral station in 1889.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theoldswanbarracks.com/Exmouth-and-the-Ningaloo-Reef|title=The Olde Swan Barracks - Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef|year=2008|access-date=26 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925233140/http://theoldswanbarracks.com/Exmouth-and-the-Ningaloo-Reef|archive-date=25 September 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The area was declared a national park in 1964, the off-shore area, [[Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth waters)|Ningaloo Marine Park]], was declared in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exmouth.wa.gov.au/tourism_and_history/national_and_marine_parks/cape_range.html|title=Shire of Exmouth|year=2007|access-date=4 May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009131654/http://www.exmouth.wa.gov.au/tourism_and_history/national_and_marine_parks/cape_range.html|archive-date=9 October 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

An abundance of flora and fauna are found within the park. Flora species include [[mangroves]], [[acacia]], [[Triodia (plant)|spinifex]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-08-05|title=Cape Range National Park Information - Maps, photos and things to do|url=http://www.pleasetakemeto.com/australia/cape-range-national-park/information|access-date=2021-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805033637/http://www.pleasetakemeto.com/australia/cape-range-national-park/information|archive-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> [[grevillea]], [[verticordia]], [[eucalyptus]] and [[lily|minilya lily]]. Fauna found within the park include [[rock wallaby|rock wallabies]], [[red kangaroo]]s, [[emu]]s, [[eastern wallaroo|euro]]s, 100 different species of [[bird]] and 80 species of [[reptile]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pleasetakemeto.com/australia/cape-range-national-park/information |title=Cape Range National Park Information |year=2010 |access-date=4 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805033637/http://www.pleasetakemeto.com/australia/cape-range-national-park/information |archive-date=5 August 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref>
{{clear}}
{{gallery
|align=center
|width=240
|height=170
|mode=packed

|Image:Vlaming Head Lighthouse and Radar.jpg
|An old WWII [[radar tower]] with the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse behind

|Image:Cape Range National Park DSC04170.JPG
|

|Image:exmouth_caperange_lighthouse.jpg
|The Vlamingh Head Lighthouse at dusk

|Image:exmouth_caperange_beach.jpg
|Beach in Cape Range

|Image:exmouth_caperange_termitehill.jpg
|One of the countless termite hills

|Image:Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Reef from the air.jpg
|Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Reef from the air
}}

== References ==
{{reflist |30em}}

==External links==
* [https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/cape-range Cape Range National Park]

{{subject bar |auto=y |portal1=Western Australia |portal2=Environment }}
{{National Parks of Western Australia}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Shire of Exmouth]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1965]]
[[Category:Ningaloo Coast]]