Landsat 9 Sees Buccaneer Archipelago
- The Buccaneer Archipelago, located off the coast of Western Australia, was formed when rising sea levels submerged part of the coastal landscape, creating hundreds of islands and low-lying reefs.
- The archipelago’s unique landforms are shaped by powerful tidal currents that stir up sediment in shallow areas, producing striking turquoise swirls visible in images like the one captured by Landsat 9.
- The tidal currents can be hazardous to seafarers and divers due to turbulent passages, including “Hell’s Gate,” a notorious spot between Gerald Peninsula and Muddle Islands.
- The Buccaneer Archipelago is located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, where King Sound opens to the Indian Ocean, creating a striking interaction between land and water.
- Images like the one captured by Landsat 9 provide valuable insights into the archipelago’s geology and ecology, offering a glimpse into this unique and fascinating region.
In the sparsely populated Kimberley region of Western Australia, jagged landforms reach like fingers into the turquoise-blue ocean waters. Along the coastline north of Derby, they used to reach even farther. But rising sea levels submerged part of the coastal landscape, giving rise to hundreds of islands and low-lying reefs that compose the Buccaneer Archipelago.
NASA/Michala Garrison; U.S. Geological Survey
The Operational Land Imager on Landsat 9 captured this image of Buccaneer Archipelago on June 11, 2025. The scene encapsulates the striking interactions between land and water in the area where King Sound opens to the Indian Ocean.
The powerful tidal currents stir up sediment in shallow areas, producing the beautiful turquoise swirls visible in this image. This power, however, can be hazardous to seafarers and divers as water rips through the archipelago’s constricted passages. One infamous place of turbulence, known as “Hell’s Gate,” lies in the passage between Gerald Peninsula and Muddle Islands.
Learn more about this archipelago in Western Australia.
Text credit: Kathryn Hansen
Image credit: NASA/Michala Garrison; U.S. Geological Survey
Q. Where is the Buccaneer Archipelago located?
A. The Buccaneer Archipelago is located in the sparsely populated Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Q. What happened to part of the coastal landscape along the coastline north of Derby?
A. Rising sea levels submerged part of the coastal landscape, giving rise to hundreds of islands and low-lying reefs that compose the Buccaneer Archipelago.
Q. When was the image of the Buccaneer Archipelago captured by Landsat 9?
A. The image of the Buccaneer Archipelago was captured by Landsat 9 on June 11, 2025.
Q. What is notable about the tidal currents in the area?
A. The powerful tidal currents stir up sediment in shallow areas, producing beautiful turquoise swirls visible in the image.
Q. Can the tidal currents be hazardous to seafarers and divers?
A. Yes, the power of the tidal currents can be hazardous to seafarers and divers as water rips through the archipelago’s constricted passages.
Q. What is known as “Hell’s Gate” in the passage between Gerald Peninsula and Muddle Islands?
A. One infamous place of turbulence, known as “Hell’s Gate,” lies in the passage between Gerald Peninsula and Muddle Islands.
Q. Why are seafarers and divers cautious when navigating through the archipelago?
A. Seafarers and divers should be cautious due to the hazardous tidal currents that can rip through the constricted passages of the archipelago.
Q. What is notable about the landforms in the Buccaneer Archipelago?
A. The jagged landforms reach like fingers into the turquoise-blue ocean waters, giving a striking visual representation of the interactions between land and water.
Q. How did the rising sea levels affect the coastline north of Derby?
A. Rising sea levels submerged part of the coastal landscape, resulting in the formation of hundreds of islands and low-lying reefs that compose the Buccaneer Archipelago.
Q. Who captured the image of the Buccaneer Archipelago on Landsat 9?
A. The Operational Land Imager on Landsat 9 captured this image of Buccaneer Archipelago on June 11, 2025.