Botany Bay is a body of water about 5 miles (8 kilometers) wide on the east coast of Australia. It lies about 5 miles south of Sydney. The bay is formed by the mouths of the Cook’s and George’s rivers. It is partially separated from the Pacific Ocean by Cape Banks and Cape Solander, which are about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) apart. In 1770, the British explorer James Cook became the first European to reach the bay. The bay was named for the many unusual plants growing on its shores. The British planned a penal colony on the bay in the 1780’s, but moved it to Sydney Harbour. Sydney suburbs now border the bay, which is a major port and industrial center. Kingsford Smith International Airport, Australia’s busiest airport, also borders the bay. A monument on the south shore marks the site of Cook’s landing.
