![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Coral_Sea_Islands.png/640px-Coral_Sea_Islands.png&w=640&q=50)
Wreck Reefs
Reef in Australia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Wreck Reefs?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The Wreck Reefs are located in the southern part of the Coral Sea Islands approximately 450 kilometres (280 mi) east-north-east of Gladstone, Queensland, Australia.
![Map of the Coral Sea Islands](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Coral_Sea_Islands.png/320px-Coral_Sea_Islands.png)
Approximately 250 kilometres (130 nmi; 160 mi) east of the Swain Reefs complex they form a narrow chain of reefs with small cays that extends for around 25 kilometres (13 nmi; 16 mi) in a west-to-east line.
Islets found on the reefs include Bird Islet, West Islet and Porpoise Cay.
The reef gained its name through the sinking of HMS Porpoise and Cato which were lost on Wreck Reefs. In 1803 Matthew Flinders embarked at Port Jackson as a passenger aboard Porpoise, which had been refitted to carry his collection of plants and papers. Cato and Bridgewater accompanied them. Eight days later (17 August) disaster stuck with Porpoise and Cato striking the uncharted reefs giving cause to the naming of the area. The area is protected as a historic wreck site.