Day 17 Cruise Horizontal Falls

Today we took zodics into Horizontal Falls nicknamed the "Horries" and known as Garaanngaddim by the local Indigenous people, we arrived at the end of an outgoing tide and journeyed down the Cyclone Creek, returning to pass by the falls 1 hour later when the tide had risen. Disappointing that we were not on the outgoing tide and greater heights so that you could really see the dramatic difference in the water levels.

The Buccaneer Archipelago is one of the Kimberley’s finest secrets, 50 k2 (19 sq mi), is made up of around 800 islands and protect the mainland from the huge 12 metre tides and astonishing speed of the Yampi (or, in traditional Aborigine, “Yampee”) Sound. The speed and power of this fantastic natural phenomena creates the horizontal reversible waterfall in Talbot Bay. The tidal pull is responsible for the “reversible” nature of the falls, however, this also hides narrow gaps between the islands, making for treacherous sailing conditions. Isolated graves of sailors and divers are testimony to the danger. William Dampier sighted the Archipelago in 1688 but it would not be until 1821 that the Archipelago would become known as Buccaneer (a term coined by Captain Phillip Parker King) "in commemoration of William Dampier’s visit to this part of the coast ". Commander John Lort Stokes also noted the area in his 1838 record. Enterprising individuals were initially attracted to the Buccaneer Archipelago in the 1800s due to the superior pearling as well as the rich iron ore deposits. Pearling conducted by luggers in the 1880s was concentrated in Cygnet Bay, Cascade Bay, Cone Bay and Strickland Bay.