Macquarie Island is an Australian island which is a World Heritage Site. It is located between the mainland of Australia and Antarctica. For years, authorities have struggled to save the island's seabirds.Australian Government: World Heritage: Macquarie Island
Ecology
About 4 million seabirds breed on the island each year. In an effort to save the island's birds, cats were removed from the island in the 19th century. The cats had originally been taken to the island to control its rabbit population. When the cats were removed, the rabbit population exploded. The results of the interference with the island's ecology has been seen as a warning of interfering with the nature's ecological system by some experts.Bloomberg: Eradicating Cats Devastated Macquarie’s Environment (January 13, 2009)
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Part of the Australian state Tasmania
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The only island in the world that is completely made up of oceanic crustAustralian Government: World Heritage: Macquarie Island
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The geology of the island provide insight into the rocks deep inside the crust of the EarthAustralian Government: World Heritage: Macquarie Island
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Scientists believe the island originated under the sea with the formation of new oceanic crust around 11 to 30 million years ago
