Frederick Reefs
 Australia
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| Location | North Cay Frederick Reefs Coral Sea islands Australia |
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| Coordinates | 20°56′06″S 154°24′00″E / 20.93500°S 154.40000°E |
| Year first constructed | ~ 1990 |
| Foundation | concrete base |
| Construction | metal tower |
| Tower shape | two-stage cylindrical tower with balcony and light |
| Markings / pattern | white tower |
| Height | 33 metres (108 ft) |
| Focal height | 33 metres (108 ft) |
| Range | 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 5s. |
| Admiralty number | K3016 |
| NGA number | 10220 |
| Managing agent | Australian Maritime Safety Authority |
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Frederick Reef is in the Coral Sea Islands, over 220 nautical miles (410 km) northeast of Gladstone, Queensland. The reef gets its name from Frederick, which first reported sighting 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, which is 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 are in a J shape that forms 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.
The Frederick Reefs are a small group of remote reefs located beyond the southern reaches of the Great Barrier Reef,
The reef complex lies 540 kilometres (340 mi) due east from the city of Mackay, Queensland or 450 kilometres (280 mi) northeast of the city of Gladstone. The reefs are part of the southern reefs of the Coral Sea and as such are located in deep oceanic waters off the Coral Sea Shelf.
Aside from its coastal neighbours, it also lies 175 kilometres (109 mi) east from the Swains Reefs; the lower part of the Great Barrier Reef. Frederick Reefs is approximately 95 kilometres (59 mi) northeast of the Saumarez Reefs and 120 kilometres (75 mi) west of the northwest extremity of Kenn Reefs.
The reefs form a semi-enclosed lagoon or body of water known as Anchorage Sound; protected on most sides but open on the north side. On the southern side of the reef lies Observatory Cay, (21°02'S., 154°23'E.), the only permanently dry land, although there are a few of others cays that can be awash at high tide. Observatory Cay is approximately 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) above sea level; with a possible landing site on its northern side through a boat channel which leads in from North East through the reef. As the cay lies near the southern edge of the reef, the surf sometimes breaks over it in heavy gales.
Similar to other smaller sand cays and spits, the position of the sand spit can move. In 1983, it was reported that Observatory Cay lay about 750 metres (2,460 ft) west of the charted position. It has also been reported that the reef complex has at least 4 or 5 other sand cays on the southern reef which does not cover with water at high tide other than Observatory Cay.
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Wikipedia