Sham Wan (Lamma Island)
Archaeological site
Sham Wan is one of the five most important archaeological sites in Hong Kong. The bay is the site of an important Bronze Age settlement which was unearthed by archaeologists in the 1970s. It yielded evidence of people living on Lamma during the "Middle Neolithic" phase (c. 3800–3000 BC).
Fauna
Historically, Sham Wan has also been a place for green sea turtles to lay eggs. The endangered green turtles are a special group of marine organisms with distinctive navigation behaviour between their nesting, breeding, development and reproduction sites.
Access Restriction
As Sham Wan is the only existing nesting site for green sea turtles in Hong Kong, the beach and adjacent waters are closed to the general public every year from 1 April to 31 October to allow the turtles to breed. Unauthorised entry during that period of restricted access is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000HKD. The breeding site is about 5,100 m (54,896 sq ft). The last known nesting at Sham Wan was in 2012.
A part of the bay has been listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1999.
References
- ^ "Conservation of sea turtles in Hong Kong". www.afcd.gov.hk. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ "How to hike wild side of Hong Kong's Lamma Island: idyllic walk takes in beautiful hillsides and a cosy beach". South China Morning Post. 7 Jul 2018.
- ^ "Register of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)". Planning Department. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Site of Special Scientific Interest - Sham Wan, Lamma Island" (PDF). Planning Department. 2 July 1999.
22°11′08″N 114°08′20″E / 22.185527°N 114.138754°E
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