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The Kiama Blowhole is a blowhole in the town of
Image:Kiama blowhole panorama.jpg, Kiama blowhole panorama
Image:Kiama blowhole panoramic view, Sydney.jpg, Kiama blowhole panoramic view, NSW
Image:Kiama blowhole, Sydney, Australia.jpg, Kiama blowhole, NSW
Image:KiamaBlow.JPG,
Image:Kiama blowhole 1.jpg,
Image:BlowHoleAtKiama.jpg,
Image:Little Blowhole Kiama New South Wales.jpg,
Pictures of the Kiama Blowhole
Animated images and sounds of the Kiama Blowhole
{{coord, 34, 40, 18.5, S, 150, 51, 47, E, type:landmark_region:AU-NSW, display=title Coastline of New South Wales Blowholes Tourist attractions in New South Wales Kiama, New South Wales
Kiama
Kiama () is a coastal town 120 kilometres south of Sydney in the Illawarra. One of the main tourist attractions is the Kiama Blowhole. Kiama features several popular surfing beaches and caravan parks, and numerous alfresco cafes and restaurants ...
, New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. The name ‘Kiama’ has long been translated as “where the sea makes a noise”. It is one of the town's major tourist attractions. Under certain sea conditions, the blowhole can spray 50 litres of water up to 25 metres (82 ft) in the air, in quantities that thoroughly drench any bystanders. There is a second, less famous blowhole in Kiama, commonly referred to as the "Little Blowhole" by locals. It is much smaller than the other (called the "Big Blowhole"), but due to its narrow shape, it is more reliable than the Big Blowhole, and in the right conditions can be equally spectacular.
The blowhole attracts 900,000 tourists a year. Kiama Blowhole is just a few metres beyond the coastline. The "little blowhole" is located at the Little Blowhole Reserve, Tingira Crescent, Kiama, 2 km south of the main blowhole. 2018
History
The blowhole was formed from basalt lava flows approximately 260 million years ago and was first discovered by local Aboriginals who named it 'Khanterinte'. The blowhole was first written about byGeorge Bass
George Bass (; 30 January 1771 – after 5 February 1803) was a British naval surgeon and explorer of Australia.
Early years
Bass was born on 30 January 1771 at Aswarby, a hamlet near Sleaford, Lincolnshire, the son of a tenant farmer, George ...
on 6 December 1797. Bass had captained a crew of six and set out on an open whaleboat
A whaleboat is a type of open boat that was used for catching whales, or a boat of similar design that retained the name when used for a different purpose. Some whaleboats were used from whaling ships. Other whaleboats would operate from the sh ...
to explore the south coast of Australia. He noticed the blowhole after anchoring his boat in a sheltered bay.
In 1992 seven people were drowned when a freak wave washed two Afghan families off the rocks, a tragedy compounded five years later when two more members of one of the families died at the picturesque site.
Despite the local council erecting fences and signs to the danger, tourists can still regularly be seen standing perilously close to the edge as the water explodes through the opening.
Cause
According to the placard at the blow hole, water shoots out of the blowhole because of pressure that forms in an underground chamber. As water fills the chamber at the end of the tunnel, pressure builds. When waves subside, the pressure inside the chamber pushes water up through the blow hole.
Gallery
References
External links
Pictures of the Kiama Blowhole
Animated images and sounds of the Kiama Blowhole
{{coord, 34, 40, 18.5, S, 150, 51, 47, E, type:landmark_region:AU-NSW, display=title Coastline of New South Wales Blowholes Tourist attractions in New South Wales Kiama, New South Wales