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The bay extends some 160km from Caloundra in the north almost to Surfer's Paradise in the south. It is separated from the Pacific Ocean by a chain of three sand island s. Moreton Island in the north, North Stradbroke Island, and South Stradbroke Island in the south. Moreton Island is protected as Moreton Island National Park. The bay itself contains around 360 islands in total.
The bay is generally shallow and sandy, though a substantive channel is maintained to allow access to the Port of Brisbane for international shipping. The Nerang, Coomera , Logan, Brisbane, Pine and Caboolture rivers all empty into Moreton Bay.
The bay is home to abundant wildlife. There are families of dolphins and dugong, sharks, and turtles. The bay is extremely popular with recreational anglerThis article is about the fish. For the person who engages in the activity of angling, see Fisherman The angler also sometimes called fishing-frog frog-fish sea-devil Lophius piscatorius , is a fish well known off the coasts of Great Britain and Europe ges.
The Moreton Bay FigThe Moreton Bay Fig Ficus macrophylla is a large evergreen tree. Named after Moreton Bay in Queensland, Australia, it is a native of most of the eastern coast, from the Atherton Tableland in the north to the Illawarra in New South Wales. The Moreton Bay F, ( Ficus macrophylla ), is endemic to the east coast of Australia within a range centred on Moreton Bay.
The Moreton Bay Bug , ( Thenus orientalis ), is a species of lobsterClawed lobsters comprise a family Nephropidae of large marine crustaceans. Smaller varieties are sometimes called "lobsterettes". Lobsters are invertebrates, and have a tough exoskeleton, which protects them. Like all arthropods, lobsters must molt in ord found throughout the waters of Australia's north coast.
Moreton Bay and its islands were inhabited by Aboriginal tribes. The Bay was named by Captain Cook who sailed past its entrance in 1770. Matthew FlindersMatthew Flinders ( 16 March 1774 19 July 1814) was one of the most accomplished navigators and chartmakers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated and named Australia, survived shi was the first recorded European to enter the Bay in 1799. He was followed by John OxleyJohn Oxley ( 1783 May 26, 1828) was an early Australian explorer. He was born in Yorkshire, England. Oxley joined the navy and travelled to Australia on the Buffalo''. For a short time he was ordered to Van Diemen's Land, which is today known as Tasmania. who discovered the Brisbane RiverThe Brisbane River is situated in south east Queensland and flows through the state capital Brisbane. It empties into Moreton Bay. The river is dammed by the Wivenhoe Dam, forming Lake Wivenhoe, the main water supply for Brisbane. The river was named afte in 1823. On a subsequent visit in the following year Oxley established the first European settlement in the Bay at the present site of Redcliffe.