Macquarie Island, often nicknamed "Macca", is a remarkable subantarctic island located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, roughly equidistant between New Zealand and Antarctica. This rugged island has been administered as part of Tasmania, Australia, since 1880, and holds significant ecological and geological importance.

Geological Significance: Macquarie Island is unique as it is the only place on Earth where rocks from the Earth's mantle are exposed above sea level, providing insights into oceanic crust and plate boundary dynamics.

Wildlife Haven: The island is a crucial breeding ground for millions of seabirds, including the entire royal penguin population, and hosts significant populations of various seal species.

Conservation Status: Recognized for its natural value, Macquarie Island was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1933, a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 due to its geological and natural significance.

The island has a maritime climate with moderate temperatures but is known for strong winds, clouds, and rain. Average daily maximum temperatures range from 4.9^oC in July to 8.8^oC in January, with high annual rainfall and limited sunshine.

The landscape includes escarpments, lakes, and diverse vegetation adapted to the windy conditions. While lacking trees, it supports a variety of native plants, mosses, and other flora in different habitat types.

Discovered in 1810, the island was initially exploited for its seal and penguin populations and suffered from the introduction of pests. Extensive conservation efforts, including the eradication of feral cats by 2000 and the successful removal of rabbits, rats, and mice by 2014, have helped restore vegetation and seabird populations.

Macquarie Island is home to the Macquarie Island Station, an Australian research base supporting studies in biology, geosciences, and meteorology.

Macquarie Island is about 34 km (21 mi) long and 5 km (3 mi) wide, with an area of 128 km2 (49 sq mi).

The island is an example of an ophiolite - a section of Earth's oceanic crust and the underlying upper mantle that has been uplifted and exposed. The process has been described as "the island itself seems to have been simply squeezed toward the surface like toothpaste from a tube".

Mammals found on the island include subantarctic fur seals, Antarctic fur seals, New Zealand fur seals and southern elephant seals - over 80,000 individuals of this species.

Regulated tourist visits via educational cruises are permitted during the summer, allowing a limited number of visitors to experience the island's wildlife and scenery.

Australia

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