Casuarina Islets

The Casuarina Islets (French: Ilots du Cassuarina), also known as The Brothers, is a pair of islands located in the Great Australian Bight immediately off the south-west coast of Kangaroo Island in South Australia approximately 96 kilometres (60 mi) south-west of Kingscote. The pair is currently part of the Flinders Chase National Park.

Location and features

Casuarina Islets are located approximately 96 kilometres (60 mi) south-west of Kingscote. The North Islet and the South Islet lay respectively 370 metres (1,210 ft) and 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) south of Cape du Couedic. The North Islet covers an area of about 2 hectares (4.9 acres) and reaches an elevation of 29 metres (95 ft). The South Islet covers an area of about 2 hectares (4.9 acres) and reaches an elevation of 35 metres (115 ft).

The Casuarina Islets were formed between 7500 and 8900 years ago after sea levels rose at the start of the Holocene. Both islets are humps of Kanmantoo group metasandstone that have been rounded by wave action. A remnant cap of calcarenite still exists over the eastern half of the North Islet while the South Islet has lost its calcarenite cap due to wave action. The North Islet is located in waters of 30 metres (98 ft) depth while the South Islet located in waters of 40 metres (130 ft) depth.