Norfolk Island is an Australian territory made up of three islands in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, and is one of the few external territories of Australia. The island has an area of 34 km². The Norfolk Island pine, which is also found on its flag, is a very iconic tree, native to this island and very popular in Australia. Norfolk is located about 1,400 km east of Australia.
Climate
Norfolk Island has a marine subtropical climate, characterized by being temperate. The temperature never drops below 10 ° C or exceeds 26 ° C. The maximum absolute temperature recorded is 28.4 ° C, while the absolute minimum recorded is 6.2 ° C. [1] The annual average precipitation is 1292.5 mm, the rains occur mainly between the months of April and August. However, the rest of the months also receive a considerable amount of rainfall.
Flora and fauna
The flora and fauna of this island is abundant and very rich in endemic species. Some 12 species of seabirds and 14 of terrestrial birds have their habitat in it, more than half, endemic to the region, among which we can mention:
– Lord Howe’s Timber Hen (Gallirallus sylvestris)
– Lord Howe’s Golden Canary (Pachycephala pectoralis contempta)
– Lord Howe’s White Eye (Zosterops lateralis tephropleurus)
– The Lod Howe Currawong (Strepera graculina crissalis)
– Lord Howe’s Marsh Chicken or White Gallinacea (Porphyrio albus) (extinct)
– The Tasmanian Booby Bird (Sula tasmani) (extinct)
– The Doctor Bird (Turdus poliocephalus vinitinctus) (extinct)
– The Strong White Eye (Zosterops strenuus) (extinct)
– Lord Howe’s Starling (Alponis fusca hulliana) (extinct)
– Lord Howe’s Pigeon (Rhipidura fuliginosa cervina) (extinct)
– The Big Forest Bat (Eptesicus sagittula)
– The scincidae lizard (Leiolopisma lichenigera) (extinct)
– The gecko lizard (Phyllodactylus guentheri) (extinct)
– The scincidae lizard (Lampropholis delicata)
– Lord Howe’s Island Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis)
– Lord Howe’s Placostylus
More than 400 species of fish are found in the waters around Lord Howe, including 9 endemic. There are more than 80 species of coral on the reefs around the island.
Culture
The existence of a varied number of different languages, dialects and religious traditions has meant that the Filipinos have not developed a single national culture. For many centuries, the evolution of the cultural history of the Philippines has been local in nature, enriched with influences from China, Malaysia, Spain and the United States. Indigenous folk elements found expression in literature and music, as well as in other cultural forms.