Frederick Reefs

Frederick Reefs

Frederick Reef is in the Coral Sea Islands, over 220 nautical miles (410 km) northeast of Gladstone, Queensland. The reef gets its name from the Frederick, which first reported sighting of the reef.

Frederick Reef is a small atoll with a large rock called Ridge Rock at the southern end, a sand cay called Observatory Cay and a lighthouse at the northern end the only permanently dry land, although there are a few of others cays that can be awash at high tide. The reef is around 30km2.

The reefs forms a J shape to form a semi-enclosed lagoon, known as Anchorage Sound, with an opening on the North side. The complex measures about 10 by 4 kilometres (6.2 by 2.5 mi), with an area of 30 square kilometres (12 sq mi).

The reef is located is some deep water and drops sharply to over 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) on the western side.