SUBANTARCTIC WILDERNESS
Macquarie Island
Aleks Terauds and Fiona Stewart
Jacana
Macquarie Island is probably better known in Australia than elsewhere in the non-scientific world. Managed as a Nature Reserve by the Tasmanian government, it is a mere 34 kilometres long and 5 kilometres at its widest point, and is wet, windy and usually cold.
Beyond that, our knowledge is fairly limited. Now this beautiful pictorial publication from Allen & Unwin puts paid to our ignorance about this vital component in the eco system of our subantarctic region.
In glorious full colour photographs and accompanying text, Macquarie Island "a speck in the immense Southern Ocean" is revealed in all its remote beauty.
The wildlife that inhabit or visit the island enjoy an existence largely undisturbed by the rest of the world - except for the research station that is the inevitable reminder of humanity in a landscape where penguins, seals and sea birds are the dominate life forms.
They didn't always have it so good. The history of Macquarie since its accidental discovery in 1810 includes periods of exploitation by man to the detriment of the creatures that must come ashore to breed here.
Subantarctic Wilderness is about that history, as well as the geology, plants and bird and animal life of this unique World Heritage Area, and finally the people of the Australian Government station who live and work on the island today.
Sit back and enjoy it, without having to leave the warmth of your sofa. For the less adventurous of us, it's a great way to discover this tiny neighbour to our south.
Review by Kerry Hennigan
Book from Allen & Unwin
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