Subantarctic Wilderness

Many people form a strong connection with wild and remote places. Macquarie Island is such a place. Halfway between Australia and Antarctica, this tiny speck of land in the middle of the Southern Ocean is one of the most remote landmasses on Earth. An Australian World Heritage Area, the island is geologically unique and the plants that live there are found in very few other parts of the world. It is also home to a fantastic and diverse array of wildlife. During the summer months, penguins, seals, albatrosses and other petrels come ashore in vast numbers.For the first 100 years following its accidental discovery in 1810, the humans living there heavily exploited the island and its natural wildlife resources. In 1933, the natural value of the island was recognized and it was declared a wildlife sanctuary. Since 1948, it has also been the site of a permanently populated research station. Today, the island is again a subantarctic wildlife haven.Beautifully illustrated by the photography of Aleks Terauds and the artwork of Fiona Stewart, this book covers all the aspects of Macquarie Island from its rich history to life on the island today, the geology and the plants and, of course, the wildlife that lives there.