Shipwrecks of Western Australia (original) (raw)

Over 1400 ships have been wrecked on the coast of Western Australia. This relatively large number of shipwrecks is due to a number of factors, including: * a long and very difficult coastline with very few natural harbours; * powerful storms and gales that are very common at certain times of the year (these winds are normally on-shore); * a long cyclone season rendering all sea travel hazardous and many harbours ineffectual in providing a safe haven; * the inability to accurately measure longitude until the late 18th century, and the tendency to reduce ships' travel time by keeping them in the "Roaring Forties" for as long as possible, which caused many ships to fail to turn north for the Indies at the right time.