North and South Stradbroke Islands

islands, Queensland, Australia

Also known as: Stradbroke Island

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Also called:: Stradbroke Island

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North and South Stradbroke Islands, two islands consisting of North and South sections, off Moreton Bay, southeastern Queensland, Australia, named for the earl of Stradbroke in 1827. It was originally one island, but a storm in 1892 severed it in two by creating Jumpinpin Channel. South Stradbroke is about 14 mi (23 km) long and 1/2 mi wide. North Stradbroke, facing Brisbane across the bay, is about 24 mi long and up to 7 mi wide and has an area of 123 sq mi (319 sq km); it rises to 720 ft (219 m) at Mount Hardgrave and has several large interior lagoons. Formerly the location of a penal colony, it is now the site of several resort towns. Hardwood timbers are cut, and beach sands are worked for rutile, zircon, and titanium.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Richard Pallardy.