VK2/SP9FIH. Janusz Wegrzyn, SP9FIH will be active as VK2/SP9FIH from Lord Howe Island, IOTA OC - 004, 27 August - 13 September 2025.
He will operate on HF Bands.
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Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe is one of the first islands to form in the Pacific Ocean.
Let's start with the fact that the island is about 20 million years old and was formed by the merger of two different volcanic islands. In 1788, a British ship with prisoners on board sailed from Australia to the northeast under the command of Henry Liedzig, where Norfolk Island was located. Unexpectedly, Lord Howe Island appeared on their way. Later, in 1834, the first settlers from New Zealand, a family of whalers, settled on this small island with an area of only 14.5 km², and a century later, the first tourists began to arrive.
Lord Howe Island. Author - Lance BB.
Lord Howe Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The highest point of the island and its underground part make up a total of 2.5 km in height. To the west of the island, a strip of coral reefs stretches along the coast, and coral polyps inhabit the coastal waters. Many animals and plants are found only on Lord Howe Island and nowhere else, such as the Lord Howe woodhen and the red-tailed phaeton bird, and endemic palms and Norfolk pines.
The underwater world around the island is home to more than 500 different species of fish, including clownfish, parrotfish, and two-headed wrasse. As Lord Howe is a very remote island, about 780 km from Sydney, and has no industry, the island's flora and fauna have remained largely unchanged since ancient times.
Some of the wildlife inhabiting Lord Howe Island is extremely valuable and rare, which is why the island is under the careful supervision of Australia and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982.
Lord Howe Islandd. Author- Krissy.
Lord Howe is an island where you can truly relax
The permanent population of the island is only about 350 people, not counting tourists, who often outnumber the permanent residents. At the same time, the boomerang-shaped island stretches 2 km from west to east and 10 km from north to south. Comparing these figures with the population, it is easy to conclude that this is a quiet and peaceful island where you can truly relax.
It is worth adding that there is no cell phone reception on Lord Howe, and there is only one street with one long road on the island. The islanders do not lock their bicycles or the doors of their houses, and the speed limit on the road is 25 km/h. However, there is also plenty to do for those who enjoy active recreation. For example, rock climbing, fishing, diving, and the island also has tennis courts, golf courses, and bicycle rentals—in short, everything you could possibly want.
The beauty of Lord Howe Island is comparable to paradise
The island is home to Mount Hoover, which is 875 meters high and can be climbed with a guide, with the permission of the island's administration. The view from this mountain is indescribable: evergreen fields, light blue water, the endless Tasman Sea, tropical forests, and the island of Bols Pyramid, part of the Lord Howe archipelago and also the highest known volcanic cliff, in the distance.
As you approach the coast, you can see the clear, clean water where rare species of fish splash about. There are no sharks in the coastal waters, except for the coral shark, which poses no threat to humans. The sea is always blue, even when dark gray clouds hang overhead, and the temperature is always pleasant. The colorful coral reefs that dot the coast will delight scuba divers and snorkelers, as well as anyone who simply loves beauty, as the reefs can be seen without any special equipment.
Lord Howe Island. Author - Mike Beauregard.
Lord Howe has an interesting form of internal self-government
With the arrival of the first settlers, three families of whalers from New Zealand—the Somersets, the Pine Tree family, and the Thompsons—came to the island. Currently, the entire population of the island is descended from these families. Residents cannot sell their land, only pass it on to their descendants who live on the island permanently. Formally, Lord Howe is part of Australia, but it has its own established rules.
Every three years, a council of three people is elected on Lord Howe Island, which owns all the land and also monitors the internal and external order of the island, issuing instructions and making changes. For example, each year the council sets the maximum number of tourists that can visit the island, which cannot be changed.
Attractions of Lord Howe Island
In addition to the island's many natural beauties, numerous beautiful beaches, and various entertainment options, mountains, and lagoons, the small Lord Howe Island also has several attractions:
- Marine Park
- Erskine Valley
- Botanical Garden
- Lord Howe Island Museum
- Balls Pyramids
- Admiralty Archipelago
If you want to visit this island and enjoy its splendor, you will need to travel by plane or ship. Usually, the island can be reached by plane from Sydney or Brisbane in a couple of hours with a pre-booked hotel room.
