West Mount Barren

Infobox Mountain
Name = West Mount Barren
Photo = West_Mount_Barren_1.jpg
Elevation = 372 metres (1220 ft)
Location = Goldfields-Esperance of Western Australia
Range = Barrens Range
Coordinates = coord|34|12|S|119|25|E|type:mountain

West Mount Barren is part of the Fitzgerald River National Park located between Bremer Bay and Hopetoun on the South Coast of Western Australia the coordinates of the summit of West Mount Barren are 34° 12’ 59” S 119º 25’ 58” E. [cite web|url=http://www.naturebase.net/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,105/Itemid,755/|title=Park Finder - Fitzgerald River National Park|year=2007|accessdate=2007-05-13] West Mt Barren rises 372 metres above sea level and forms part of the Barren Range within the national park. Mount Bland (320m) is the closest mountain feature and is situated approximately 5km northeast from West Mount Barren.The Barren range is not continuous and although there are three distinct Mount Barrens (West, Mid and East) they are distinct peaks that are connected by coastal plain.Mid Mount Barren is approximately 20km northeast of West Mount Barren and East Mount Barren is approximately 50km northeast of West Mount Barren. Other peaks in the area include Woolbernup Hill, Thumb Peak, Mt Drummond and Mt Maxwell.

West Mount Barren is accessible by an unsealed road suitable for 2WD vehicles that runs off Pabelup Drive. A carpark with a plaque is at the base of the mountain which is also the beginning of a track that is an easy 2 hour return walk to the summit. Visitors are encouraged to stay on the footpath so as to minimise the spread of dieback which is a threat to the native plants of the area.A commanding view of the national park and the coastline is seen from the summit of West Mount Barren.

Geology

The Ravensthorpe region is underlain by basement rocks of the Albany-Fraser Orogen and Yilgarn Craton. These rocks consist of granite, gneiss and minor enclaves of sedimentary and volcanic rocks. The Barren Ranges consist of metasediments, mostly folded and faulted quartzite, phyllite, dolomite and conglomerate. [5] The Barrens are composed of rock beds that have been tilted and folded. These rock beds were once layers of sand deposited on the sea floor. They were subsequently compressed, heated and uplifted by movements of the Earth's crust. [cite web|url=http://www.naturebase.net/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,105/Itemid,755/|title=Park Finder - Fitzgerald River National Park|year=2007|accessdate=2007-05-13]

Botany

The vegetation surrounding West Mount Barren is best described as scrub-heath with many types of shrubs that thrive in the quartzitic or lateritic sand, often in rocky situations. The shrubs are comprised mostly of Proteaceae and Myrtaceae. [cite web|url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=3356|title=Flora of Australia Online|year=2000|accessdate=2007-05-13]

Several species are unique to the area and can be found on and around West Mount Barren.Species include Royal Hakea (Hakea victoria), Qualup Bells (Pimelea physodes), Oval-leaf Adenanthos (Adenanthos ellipticus), Blue Dampiera (Dampiera linearis), silver-leafed Barrens regalia (Regelia velutina), Barrens clawflower (Calothamnus validus), and the Broad-leaved Brown Pea (Bossiaea ornata). [6]

Fire

The area around West Mount Barren is often burnt out by bush fires. Lightning strikes are the most usual cause of fires that often devastate large areas of the park. The last large scale fire was in December 2006 where four fires, that were started by lightning strikes, joined into one much larger blaze that burned out several hectares of bushland. [cite web|url=http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=146&ContentID=16593|title=The West Australian - Massive blaze in national park|year=2006|accessdate=2007-05-13]

References

[5] Johnson, S.L. (1998). Hydrogeology of the Ravensthorpe 1:250 000 Sheet: WesternAustralia, Hydrogeological Map Explanatory Notes Series, Report HM 4, Water andRivers Commission, East Perth, Western Australia.

[6] George, A.S. (1974). Five new species of Adenanthos (Proteaceae) from Western Australia. in Nuytsia 1(4):381-386.