Precipitous Bluff or PB is a mountain in the South West Wilderness of Tasmania located north east of New River lagoon.

Precipitous Bluff
Precipitous Bluff is located in Tasmania
Precipitous Bluff
Precipitous Bluff
Location in Tasmania, Australia
Highest point
Elevation1,145 m (3,757 ft)[1]
Prominence415 m (1,362 ft)[1]
Coordinates43°28′00″S 146°36′00″E / 43.46667°S 146.60000°E / -43.46667; 146.60000[1]
Geography
LocationTasmania, Australia
Parent rangeSouthern Ranges
Topo map[1]

Geology and Geography

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It is visible from the South Coast Track and the Moonlight Ridge walk with a prominence of over 400m consisting of columnar Jurassic dolerite rock.[2][3][4] It is rich in Ordovician Carbonates and limestone in the area was briefly under threat by mining in the 1970s. There were also logging threats until it became part of the Southwest National Park.[5][6][7]

Archaeological and cave features, together with cave fauna[8][9][10] were investigated during the Franklin Dam controversy but were criticised for being politically influenced.

Access

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PB can be accessed from either the South Coast track to the south, or the Moonlight ridge track to the north east. It is a 2-day walk from the coast track including a lengthy wade through New River Lagoon, or a multi-day hike across the more inland ridges.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c "Precipitous Bluff, Australia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Moonlight Ridge Walk". Tasmanian Hikes. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  3. ^ Tasmania. National Parks and Wildlife Service; Hobart Walking Club (Tas.) (1978), Route guide for Precipitous Bluff and the Southern Ranges Traverse from Lune River to New River Lagoon, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania, retrieved 6 November 2016
  4. ^ Tasmania. Department of Primary Industries and Water; TASMAP (2007), Precipitous (Ed. 2, 2007 ed.), Tasmap publication by the Dept. of Primary Industries and Water, retrieved 6 November 2016
  5. ^ Burrett, CF; Laurie, J; Stait, B (1981), Gordon Subgroup (Ordovician) carbonates at Precipitous Bluff and Point Cecil, southern Tasmania, Australia, retrieved 6 November 2016
  6. ^ Environmental Law Reform Group (1973), The national estate and the public interest : Precipitous Bluff, environmental rights & mining, Environmental Law Reform Group, ISBN 978-0-9599050-2-1
  7. ^ Tasmanian Conservation Trust (1973), The New River, Tasmanian Conservation Trust, retrieved 6 November 2016
  8. ^ Eberhard, S. (Stefan); Hume, N; Tasmanian Caverneering Club (1986), Report of the Tasmanian Caverneering Club 1986 speleological reconnaissance expedition to Precipitous Bluff, Tasmanian Caverneering Club, ISBN 978-0-7316-5173-3
  9. ^ W. F. Ponder; S. A. Clark; S. Eberhard; J. B. Studdert (2 November 2005). "A radiation of hydrobiid snails in the caves and streams at Precipitous Bluff, southwest Tasmania, Australia (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Rissooidea: Hydrobiidae s.l.)". Zootaxa. 1074 (1): 1–66. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.1074.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334. Wikidata Q28939018.
  10. ^ Rhys Jones; Jim Allen (1 December 1984). "Archaeological Investigations in the Andrew River Valley, Acheron River Valley and at Precipitous Bluff - Southwest Tasmania - February 1984". Australian Archaeology. 19 (1): 86–101. doi:10.1080/03122417.1984.12092959. ISSN 0312-2417. Wikidata Q112209688.