Horsburgh Island
Horsburgh Island is an uninhabited islet in the South Keeling Islands atoll of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia. The island spans, and is part of a marine protected area. It features a lagoon, coral reefs, and supports various seabird populations. The islands played a role in the Second World War.
History
Named "Pulau Luar" in Malay language, Horsburgh Island was named after British hydrographer James Horsburgh, who charted it in the early 1800s. The Clunies-Ross Family settled the islands and managed it. During the Second World War, the Ceylon Garrison Artillery installed two six-inch guns at its southern point for coastal defence. In May 1942, the Ceylon artillery garrison began the Cocos Islands Mutiny, intending to hand the islands over to the Japanese troops. The condemned mutineers were shipped back to Ceylon, and imprisoned. The six-inch guns have survived and are a historic relic, listed on the Australian [Commonwealth Heritage List].Geography
Horsburgh is an uninhabited islet in the South Keeling Islands atoll of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia. The island spans, and has a long coastline. It is located in the Australian plate in the South Indian Ocean, and is known to have occasional seismic activity. It experiences a tropical rainforest climate characterized by heavy rainfall throughout the year, high humidity, and high temperatures.The topography is fairly flat, with most of the island located below sea level and the highest elevation on the island reaching approximately. The island is characterized coastal lowlands with rocky gravel terrain and central flat plains.