The town of Cervantes, known as the 'Gateway to the Pinnacles' is named after the wreck "Cervantes" and like Port Gregory, has a thriving lobster/crayfish industry.
Situated in the nearby Nambung National Park is the Pinnacles Desert. In this area of varying colour sand there are literally thousands of limestone pinnacles ranging in size up to 5 metres tall and 2 metres thick at the base.
Apparently, there are a number of theories as to how the pinnacles came about. The most popular theory is that they were formed thousands of years ago when ancient plant roots formed a weak cementation of calcite within the dunes which have been exposed by wind and shifting sands. Either way, they are an awesome sight and well worth a visit.
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| The colour of the sand changes with the light or lack thereof.... |
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| The pinnacles are pretty tall |
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| Will you be my friend? |
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| "Child!!!" |
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| Awesome...the Pinnacles set against the sea |
Also at Cervantes is Lake Thetis which is only one for four known locations where the oldest living fossils - Stromatolites - can be found. Stromatolites are not pretty things and could be easily overlooked unless you are told something about them. They are in fact "l
ayered bio-chemical structures that are formed in shallow water by the trapping binding and centurion of sedimentary grains of micro-organisms and provide the most ancient records of life on Earth by fossil remains which date from some 3.5 billion years ago". Phew...what a mouthful, but you get the picture, they are pretty old.
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| Stromatolites with a sign that says "Get off my Face"..very funny |
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