Cape Raoul

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Cape Raoul
Tasmania
Cape Raoul is located in Tasmania
Cape Raoul
Cape Raoul
Coordinates43°12′04″S 147°45′48″E / 43.2012°S 147.7634°E / -43.2012; 147.7634
Populationnil (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)7184
Location13 km (8 mi) S of Nubeena
LGA(s)Tasman
RegionSouth-east
State electorate(s)Lyons
Federal division(s)Lyons
Localities around Cape Raoul:
White Beach White Beach, Stormlea Port Arthur
Tasman Sea Cape Raoul Tasman Sea
Tasman Sea Tasman Sea Tasman Sea

Cape Raoul is a rural locality and a natural feature in the local government area of Tasman in the South-east region of Tasmania. It is located about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) south of the town of Nubeena. The 2016 census determined a population of nil for the state suburb of Cape Raoul.[1]

Cape Raoul is a confirmed suburb/locality.[2]

Boundaries and location

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The shore of the Tasman Sea is the locality's western, southern, and eastern boundaries. The cape is contained within the locality, which is contained within the western section of Tasman National Park.[3]

Tip of the cape from the sea

Cape Raoul (the natural feature) is situated at the southernmost part of the Tasman Peninsula, in south eastern Tasmania.[4] It forms the coastline of Raoul Bay, and is part of the dolerite landscape of the Tasman National Park.[5]

Geography

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The cape features rock platforms, towering cliffs, columns and off-shore islands,[4] including the Hippolyte Rocks. There is a 300-metre-high (980 ft) cliff with scenic views of the coastline.[4] A 7-kilometre (4.3 mi) walking track there then descends steadily onto the Cape Raoul plateau, with the spectacular cape of dolerite columns at the end of the plateau.[4]

The cape is accessed via Port Arthur at the end of Stormlea Road.[4]

Columns

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The columns at the cape appear to be a colonnade formed from columnar jointing. This happens when a pool of magma cools at just the right rate so that as its surface contracts, it cracks into polygonal plates. The cracks accelerate the cooling, extending the cracks vertically, thereby forming columns.[6][7][8]

History

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A note from 1911 made a description of the cape:[9]

So named from D'Entrecasteaux's pilot. Flinders called it Basaltic Cape, but only prior to the publication of the maps of the French expedition. "In 1814 Flinders very honestly (writes Comte deFleurieu) replaces on his map the name of Raoull, stating that he gave up the name of Basaltic. This notwithstanding, Scott, Cross, and Arrowsmith chart it as Raoull or Basaltic.

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cape Raoul.
  1. ^ a b "2016 Census Quick Stats Cape Raoul (Tas.)". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Placenames Tasmania – Cape Raoul". Placenames Tasmania. Select “Search”, enter "38059Y", click “Search”, select row, map is displayed, click “Details”. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Cape Raoul, Tasmania" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Cape Raoul
  5. ^ https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/tasman-national-park Tasman National Park
  6. ^ "The Dolerite Columns of Coastal Tasmania".
  7. ^ Long, P. E., & Wood, B. J. (1986). Structures, textures, and cooling histories of Columbia River basalt flows. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 97(9), 1144-1155. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1986)97<1144:STACHO>2.0.CO;2
  8. ^ Spry, A. (1962). The origin of columnar jointing, particularly in basalt flows. Journal of the Geological Society of Australia, 8(2), 191-216. https://doi.org/10.1080/14400956208527873
  9. ^ "TASMANIAN NOMENCLATURE". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 16 September 1911. p. 10. Retrieved 1 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia. ( TASMANIAN NOMENCLATURE. The Place-Names of the State. A Record Of Origins and Dates. Compiled by "Nomen." – section on Cape Raoul)
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