| O f f r o a d i n g | 19th January 2008 |
Hosnie's Springs Track, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean Territories, Australia
Hosnie's Springs is an important freshwater wetland habitat on the island, and is one of the two designated RAMSAR sites (the other being the Dales) on Christmas Island. The wetland lies about 200 metres inland from the coast, and is between 20 to 45 metres above sea level. The unique importance of Hosnie's Springs is that it support a stand of freshwater mangrove trees of the genus Brugueria. The land here is fed by several freshwater springs which emerge near the base of an inland cliff. The water seeps over a layer of gravel and phosphatic soil, which makes the right conditions for these freshwater mangrove trees to thrive.
Getting to Hosnie's Springs is one of great difficulty. The 4WD track leading to it has not been maintained, is very overgrown and has many fallen trees across the track. Getting there would require a 4WD team with skills and equipment to clear these obstacles.
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