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 The tip of Spencers Gulf provides safe scenic flat water cruising with aspects that are unique
on so many levels.
See how the Flinders Ranges change from tree covered hills near Mt Remarkable into the sharp escarpments of Devils Peak & Mt
Arden.
The below photos show the differance in tide heights. We have a 4m rise & fall of tide each day with 2 high
tides & 2 low tides each day, see graphs further down showing tide cycles including the unique 'Dodge' tides.
High Tide above, Low Tide below
The below graphs show average tide cycles for the Port Augusta area. The yellow portion is the day
time , the blue is the night time. See below for Summer, Winter & the unique Dodge tides.
The above is a typical Summer tide pattern, with a large tidal variation during the day (yellow
portion) & a smaller variation during the night (blue section).
The above is a typical Winter tide pattern, with a large tidal variation during
the night (blue portion) & a smaller variation during the day (yellow section).
Then once every 2 weeks the Sun & Moon get in such a position they cancel each others forces
creating a couple of days of slack tides. These are known as 'Dodge' tides. True dodge tides only happen in 2 places in the
world, South Australia & the Gulf of Mexico.
From Whyalla on the Eyre Penninsula & Port Pirie on the Yorke Penninsula, North past Port
Augusta is home to around 40% of South Australia's total mangrove population. All the mangroves in South Australia
are a single species, called the Grey Mangrove. Flinders ranges Water Cruises takes you right up into the mangrove
system.
If you look around the base of the tree you can see the 'air roots' or technically
'pneumataphores' which provide oxygen for the tree. What these air roots also do is slow the tide flow around the base of the
mangrove, so there is a build up of silt around the base thereby building land for themselves so when they drop their seeds they
have a better chance of propergation.
Click to View Footage....
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