Uluru (Uluru)
Ayers Rock
Inselberg Monolith
Uluru at sunset
Country	Australia
State	Northern Territory
Elevation	863 m (2,831 ft)
Coordinates	25°20′42″S 131°02′10″E / -25.345, 131.03611
Geology	arkose
Orogeny	Petermann
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Name	Uluru - Kata Tjuṯa National Park
Year	1987 (#11)
Number	447
Criteria	v,vi,vii,ix
Location in Australia
Wikimedia Commons: Uluru
Website: www.environment.gov.au/…

Uluru, also referred to as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs; 450 km (280 mi) by road. Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park. Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area. It has many springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a World Heritage Site. Ayers Rock was a jazz fusion/progressive rock band from Melbourne, Australia. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 500 × 334 pixelsFull resolution (500 × 334 pixel, file size: 34 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Uluru... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... For similar terms, see Northern Territories (disambiguation) Slogan or Nickname: The Territory, The NT, The Top End Motto(s): none Other Australian states and territories Capital Darwin Government Constitutional monarchy Administrator Ted Egan Chief Minister Clare Martin (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 2  - Senate seats 2 Gross Territorial Product (2004... This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Arkose is a kind of sandstone combining of quartz and with large amounts of feldspar. ... // Overview The Petermann Orogen is an intracontinental event that affected basement rocks of the northern Musgrave Province and Proterozoic sediments of the (now) southern Amadeus Basin between ~550-535 Ma. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Topography of Australia image description here larger version here Image courtesy: NASA/JPL-Caltech File links The following pages link to this file: Geography of Australia Categories: NASA images ... Image File history File links Australia_-_outline_map. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article is about the geological formation. ... For similar terms, see Northern Territories (disambiguation) Slogan or Nickname: The Territory, The NT, The Top End Motto(s): none Other Australian states and territories Capital Darwin Government Constitutional monarchy Administrator Ted Egan Chief Minister Clare Martin (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 2  - Senate seats 2 Gross Territorial Product (2004... “km” redirects here. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... Aerial, Alice Springs Alice Springs Landsat image Alice Springs is a town and the second largest centre in the Northern Territory of Australia. ... “km” redirects here. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... Kata Tjuta Kata Tjuta, also known as Mount Olga (or colloquially as The Olgas), are large conglomerate rock formations, which are a remarkable group of 30 or so domed hills situated about 25 km from Uluru in the Northern Territory of Australia. ... Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is UNESCO World Heritage-listed in the Northern Territory of Australia. ... Image:Some aboriginal communities in the northern territory australia. ... Yankunytjatjara (also Yankuntatjara, Jangkundjara, Kulpantja) is an Australian Aboriginal language. ... Language(s) Several hundred Indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religion(s) Primarily Christian, with minorities of other religions including various forms of Traditional belief systems based around the Dreamtime Related ethnic groups see List of Indigenous Australian group... A waterhole, in its simplest definition, is a hole filled with water. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State...

Name

The local Pitjantjatjara people call the landmark Uluṟu (IPA: [uluɻu]). This word has no particular meaning in Pitjantjatjara, but it is also used as a local family name by the senior Traditional Owners of Uluru.^[1] Pitjantjatjara is a dialect of the Western Desert language traditionally spoken by the Pitjantjatjara people of Central Australia. ...

In October 1872 the explorer Ernest Giles was the first non-indigenous person to sight Kata Tjuṯa. He saw it from a considerable distance, and was prevented by Lake Amadeus from approaching closer. On 19 July 1873, the surveyor William Gosse visited Uluṟu and named it Ayers Rock in honour of the then-Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers.^[2] The Aboriginal name was first recorded by the Wills expedition in 1903.^{[citation needed]} Since then, both names have been used, although Ayers Rock was the most common name used by outsiders until recently. This list of explorers is sorted by surname. ... Yours faithfully, Ernest Giles Photo in the frontespiece of his Australia Twice Traversed William Ernest Powell Giles (7 July 1835 – 13 November 1897), best known as Ernest Giles, was an Australian explorer who led three major expeditions in central Australia. ... Lake Amadeus is a big salt lake in the area of Uluru (Ayers Rock), located in the SW corner of Australias Northern Territory. ... is the 200th day of the year (201st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Surveyor at work with a leveling instrument. ... William Christie Gosse (1842 – 1881), explorer, was born in Hertfordshire, England. ... This is a list of Premiers of South Australia. ... Henry Ayers is a former Premier of South Australia who is best remembered for having Ayers Rock (now Uluru) named for him. ...

In 1993, a dual naming policy was adopted that allowed official names that consist of both the traditional Aboriginal name and the English name. On 15 December 1993, it was renamed "Ayers Rock/Uluru" and became the first officially dual-named feature in the Northern Territory. The order of the dual names was officially reversed to "Uluru/Ayers Rock" on 6 November 2002 following a request from the Regional Tourism Association in Alice Springs.^{[citation needed]} Dual naming is a policy for the naming of geographical landmarks, in which an official name is adopted that combines two previous names. ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

Description

Uluru is one of Australia's most recognisable natural icons. The world-renowned sandstone formation stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high (863 m/2,831 ft above sea level) with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures 9.4 km (5.8 mi) in circumference. Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta have great cultural significance for the Aṉangu Traditional landowners, who lead walking tours to inform visitors about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal dreamtime stories of the area. This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Anangu, more accurately AṉaÅ‹u or Arnangu, IPA: is a word found in a number of eastern varieties of the Western Desert Language (WDL), an Australian Aboriginal language of the Pama-Nyungan family, spoken in the desert regions of western and central Australia. ... Language(s) Several hundred Indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religion(s) Primarily Christian, with minorities of other religions including various forms of Traditional belief systems based around the Dreamtime Related ethnic groups see List of Indigenous Australian group... opens chapter nine of The Dreaming Universe (1994) entitled The Dreamtime with a quote from The Last Wave, a film by Peter Weir: Aboriginals believe in two forms of time. ...

Uluru is notable for appearing to change colour as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year, with sunset a particularly remarkable sight when it briefly glows red. Although rainfall is uncommon in this semiarid area, during wet periods the rock acquires a silvery-grey colour, with streaks of black algae forming on the areas that serve as channels for water flow. Color constancy is an example of subjective constancy and a feature of the human color-perception system which ensures that the perceived color of objects remains relatively constant under varying illumination conditions. ... Color is an important part of the visual arts. ...

Kata Tjuta, also called Mount Olga or The Olgas owing to its peculiar formation, is another rock formation about 25 km (16 mi) from Uluru. Special viewing areas with road access and parking have been constructed to give tourists the best views of both sites at dawn and dusk.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1587x328, 161 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Uluru Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create...

Geology

Uluru is an inselberg, literally "island mountain", an isolated remnant left after the slow erosion of an original mountain range.^[3] Uluru is also often referred to as a monolith, although this is a somewhat ambiguous term because of its multiple meanings, and thus a word generally avoided by geologists. The remarkable feature of Uluru is its homogeneity and lack of jointing and parting at bedding surfaces, leading to the lack of development of scree slopes and soil. These characteristics led to its survival, while the surrounding rocks were eroded.^[4] For the purpose of mapping and describing the geological history of the area, geologists refer to the rock strata making up Uluru as the Mutitjulu Arkose, and it is one of many sedimentary formations filling the Amadeus Basin.^[3] An inselberg is an isolated hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. ... For other uses, see Monolith (disambiguation). ... The Geologist by Carl Spitzweg A geologist is a contributor to the science of geology, studying the physical structure and processes of the Earth and planets of the solar system (see planetary geology). ... Columnar jointed basalt in Turkey Columnar jointing in the basalt of the Giants Causeway in Ireland A joint is a generally planar fracture formed in a rock as a result of extensional stress. ... In geology a bed is the smallest division of a geologic formation or stratigraphic rock series marked by well-defined divisional planes (bedding planes) separating it from layers above and below. ... Scree or detritic cone is a term given to broken rock that appears at the bottom of crags, mountain cliffs or valley shoulders. ... For other uses, see strata (novel) and strata title. ... Two types of sedimentary rock: limey shale overlaid by limestone. ... The Amadeus Basin is a large (ca. ...

Composition

Uluru rock formations.

Uluru is dominantly composed of coarse-grained arkose, a type of sandstone characterized by an abundance of feldspar, and some conglomerate.^[5][3] Average composition is 50% feldspar, 25–35% quartz and up to 25% rock fragments; most feldspar is K-feldspar with only minor plagioclase as subrounded grains and highly altered inclusions within K-feldspar.^[3] The grains are typically 2–4 mm (0.08–0.16 in) in diameter, and are angular to subangular; the finer sandstone is well sorted, with sorting decreasing with increasing grain size.^[3] The rock fragments include subrounded basalt, invariably replaced to various degrees by chlorite and epidote.^[3] The minerals present suggest derivation from a predominantly granite source, similar to the Musgrave Block exposed to the south.^[4] When relatively fresh, the rock has a grey colour, but weathering of iron-bearing minerals by the process of oxidation gives the outer surface layer of rock a red-brown rusty colour.^[3] Features related to deposition of the sediment include cross-bedding and ripples, analysis of which indicated deposition from broad shallow high energy fluvial channels and sheet flooding, typical of alluvial fans.^[3][4] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 1. ... Arkose is a kind of sandstone combining of quartz and with large amounts of feldspar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A conglomerate with iron oxide cementing material Conglomerate, Submarine Landslide located at Point Reyes, Marin County California. ... For other uses, see Quartz (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Lunar Ferroan Anorthosite #60025 (Plagioclase Feldspar). ... Rounding, roundness or angularity are terms used to describe the shape of the corners on a particle (or clast) of sediment. ... Sorting indicates the distribution of grain size of sediments, either in unconsolidated deposits or in sedimentary rocks. ... Particle size, also called grain size, refers to the diameter of individual grains of sediment, or the lithified particles in clastic rocks. ... For the cities, see Basalt, Colorado and Basalt, Idaho. ... The chlorite ion This discusses some chlorine compounds. ... Epidote from Slovakia Epidote is a calcium aluminium iron sorosilicate mineral, Ca2(Al, Fe)3(SiO4)3(OH), crystallizing in the monoclinic system. ... For other uses, see granite (disambiguation). ... The Musgrave Block is an east-west trending belt of Proterozoic granulite-gneiss basement rocks approximately 500km long. ... ed|other uses|reduction}} Illustration of a redox reaction Redox (shorthand for reduction/oxidation reaction) describes all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation number (oxidation state) changed. ... Cross bedding is a geological term referring to the way a sedimentary deposit is affected by water currents, during its formation. ... In geology, ripple marks are sedimentary structures that indicate agitation by wind or waves. ... The word fluvial is used in geography and earth science to refer to all topics related to flowing water. ... A vast alluvial fan blossoms across the desolate landscape between the Kunlun and Altun mountain ranges that form the southern border of the Taklimakan Desert in China’s XinJiang Province. ...

Age and origin

The Mutitjulu Arkose is believed to be of about the same age as the conglomerate at Kata Tjuta, and to have a similar origin despite the rock type being different, but it is younger and unrelated to the rocks exposed to the east at Mount Conner.^[3] The strata at Uluru are nearly vertical, dipping to the south west at 85°, and have an exposed thickness of at least 2,400 m (7,900 ft). The strata dip below the surrounding plain and no doubt extend well beyond Uluru in the subsurface, but the extent is not known. The rock was originally sand, deposited as part of an extensive alluvial fan that extended out from the ancestors of the Musgrave, Mann and Petermann Ranges to the south and west, but separate from a nearby fan that deposited the sand, pebbles and cobbles that now make up Kata Tjuta.^[3][4] The similar mineral composition of the Mutitjulu Arkose and the granite ranges to the south is now explained. The ancestors of the ranges to the south were once much larger than the eroded remnants we see today. They were thrust up during a mountain building episode referred to as the Petermann Orogeny that took place in late Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian times (550-530 Ma), and thus the Mutitjulu Arkose is believed to have been deposited at about the same time. The arkose sandstone which makes up the formation is composed of grains that show little sorting based on grain size, exhibit very little rounding and the feldspars in the rock are relatively fresh in appearance. This lack of sorting and grain rounding is typical of arkosic sandstones and is indicative of relatively rapid erosion from the granites of the growing mountains to the south. The layers of sand were nearly horizontal when deposited, but were later tilted to their near vertical position during a later episode of mountain building, possibly the Alice Springs Orogeny of Palaeozoic age (400-300 Ma).^[3] A conglomerate with iron oxide cementing material Conglomerate, Submarine Landslide located at Point Reyes, Marin County California. ... Mount Conner seen from the road to Uluru Mount Conner, reaching to 760 m (2,500 ft) above sea level and to 300 m (985 ft) above ground level, is the most easterly of central Australias monoliths. ... Strike and dip refer to the orientation or attitude of a geologic feature. ... A vast alluvial fan blossoms across the desolate landscape between the Kunlun and Altun mountain ranges that form the southern border of the Taklimakan Desert in China’s XinJiang Province. ... Musgrave Ranges is a mountain range in Central Australia, straddling the boundary of South Australia and the Northern Territory, extending into Western Australia. ... // Orogeny (Greek for mountain generating) is the process of mountain building, and may be studied as a tectonic structural event, as a geographical event and a chronological event, in that orogenic events cause distinctive structural phenomena and related tectonic activity, affect certain regions of rocks and crust and happen within... // Overview The Petermann Orogen is an intracontinental event that affected basement rocks of the northern Musgrave Province and Proterozoic sediments of the (now) southern Amadeus Basin between ~550-535 Ma. ... The Neoproterozoic Era is the unit of geologic time from 1,000 to 542 +/- 0. ... For other uses, see Cambrian (disambiguation). ... Annum is a Latin noun meaning year. ... The Alice Springs Orogeny was a major tectonic (mountain building) episode in central Australia responsible for the formation of a series of large mountain ranges[1]. The episode started at about 450 million years ago and concluded about 300 million years ago[2],[3]. The orogeny was centred in an... The Paleozoic Era (from the Greek palaio, old and zoion, animals, meaning ancient life) is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon. ... Annum is a Latin noun meaning year. ...

Despite current estimates of the age of the geological formations that comprise Uluru, however, the arkose sandstone which makes up the formation is composed of grains that are many different sizes and are jagged, and the feldspars in the rock are fresh and shiny. Flood geologists argue that this indicates a comparatively fast deposit, on the order of only a few years or less. They state that if the arkose grains had been transported more slowly they would be more rounded and evenly sorted, and the feldspars would have turned to clay in the intervening years.^[6] Flood geology (also creation geology or diluvial geology) is a prominent subset of beliefs under the umbrella of creationism that assumes the literal truth of a global flood as described in the Genesis account of Noahs Ark. ...

Fauna and flora

Black-flanked Rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis).

Historically, 46 species of native mammals are known to have been living in the Uluru region; according to recent surveys there are currently 21. Aṉangu acknowledge that a decrease in the number has implications for the condition and health of the landscape. Moves are supported for the reintroduction of locally extinct animals such as Malleefowl, Common Brushtail Possum, Rufous Hare-wallaby or Mala, Bilby, Burrowing Bettong and the Black-flanked Rock-wallaby.^[7] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 463 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (771 × 997 pixel, file size: 140 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Uluru... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 463 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (771 × 997 pixel, file size: 140 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Uluru... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria For the folk-rock band see The Mammals. ... Binomial name Gould, 1840 The Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) is a stocky ground-dwelling Australian bird about the size of a domestic chicken (to which it is distantly related). ... Binomial name Trichosurus vulpecula (Kerr, 1792) The Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula, from the Greek for furry tailed and the Latin for little fox) is the largest possum, and the Australian marsupial most often seen by city-dwellers, since it is one the very few that thrives in cities as... Binomial name Lagorchestes hirsutus Gould, 1844 The Rufous Hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes hirsutus), also known as the Mala, is a small macropod found in Australia. ... For the band, see Bilby (band). ... Binomial name Bettongia lesueur (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) The Boodie (Bettongia lesueur), also known locally as the Burrowing Bettong, is a small marsupial related to the kangaroo. ... Binomial name Petrogale lateralis (Gray, 1827) The Black-flanked Rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis), also known as the Black-footed Rock-wallaby or Warru is a kind of wallaby, one of several rock-wallabies in the genus Petrogale. ...

The Mulgara, the only mammal listed as vulnerable, is mostly restricted to the transitional sand plain area, a narrow band of country that stretches from the vicinity of Uluru to the Northern boundary of the park and into Ayers Rock Resort. This area also contains the marsupial mole, Woma Python or kuniya, and Great Desert Skink. Binomial name Dasycercus cristicauda (Krefft, 1867) The Mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda) lives in deserts and spinifex bush of central Australia. ... This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Species The marsupial moles are rare and poorly understood burrowing mammals of the deserts of western Australia. ... Binomial name Aspidites ramsayi (Peters, 1876) Woma Python (Aspidites ramsayi) are a type of constrictor snake from Australia. ... This article is about the reptile. ...

The bat population of the park comprises at least seven species that depend on day roosting sites within caves and crevices of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Most of the bats forage for aerial prey within 100 m (330 ft) or so from the rock face. The park has a very rich reptile fauna of high conservation significance with 73 species having been reliably recorded. Four species of frog are abundant at the base of Uluru and Kata Tjuta following summer rains. The Great Desert Skink is listed as vulnerable. “Chiroptera” redirects here. ... Prey can refer to: Look up Prey in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A prey animal eaten by a predator in an act called predation. ... Reptilia redirects here. ... Distribution of frogs (in black) Suborders Archaeobatrachia Mesobatrachia Neobatrachia - List of Anuran families The frogness babe is an amphibian in the order Anura (meaning tail-less from Greek an-, without + oura, tail), formerly referred to as Salientia (Latin saltare, to jump). ... Abundance is an ecological concept referring to the relative representation of a species in a particular ecosystem. ...

Aṉangu continue to hunt and gather animal species in remote areas of the park and on angu land elsewhere. Hunting is largely confined to the Red Kangaroo, Bush Turkey, Emu and lizards such as the Sand Goanna and Perentie. Binomial name Desmarest, 1822 The Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is the largest of all kangaroos and the largest surviving marsupial. ... Binomial name Ardeotis australis (Gray, 1829) The Australian Bustard, Ardeotis australis, is a large ground bird of grassland, woodland and open agricultural country across northern Australia and southern New Guinea. ... For other uses, see EMU. Binomial name (Latham, 1790) The Emu has been recorded in the areas shown in orange. ... For other uses, see Lizard (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Goanna (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Varanus giganteus (Gray, 1845) The Perentie is the largest monitor lizard or goanna native to Australia. ...

Of the 27 mammal species found in the park, six are introduced: the house mouse, camel, fox, cat, dog and rabbit. These species are distributed throughout the park but their densities are greatest in the rich water run-off areas of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 The House Mouse (Mus musculus) is one of the most numerous species of the genus Mus commonly termed a mouse. ... For other uses, see Camel (disambiguation). ... This article is about the animal. ... Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... For other uses, see Rabbit (disambiguation). ...

Trees at the base of Uluru.

Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park flora represents a large portion of plants found in Central Australia. A number of these species are considered rare and restricted in the park or the immediate region. There are many rare and endemic plants at Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 2048 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 2048 pixel, file size: 2. ... Simplified schematic of an islands flora - all its plant species, highlighted in boxes. ... Endemic, in a broad sense, can mean belonging or native to, characteristic of, or prevalent in a particular geography, race, field, area, or environment; Native to an area or scope. ...

The growth and reproduction of plant communities rely on irregular rainfall. Some plants are able to survive fire and some are dependent on it to reproduce. Plants are an important part of Tjukurpa, and there are ceremonies for each of the major plant foods. Many plants are associated with ancestral beings. For other uses, see Fire (disambiguation). ... This article is about Australian Aboriginal cosmogony, cosmology and spirituality. ... An ancestor is a parent or (recursively) the parent of an ancestor (i. ...

Flora in Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park can be broken into the following categories:

• Punu – trees
• Puti – shrubs
• Tjulpun-tjulpunpa – flowers
• Ukiri - grasses

Trees such as the Mulga and Centralian Bloodwood are used to make tools such as spearheads, boomerangs and bowls. The red sap of the bloodwood is used as a disinfectant and an inhalant for coughs and colds. Binominal name Acacia aneura In botany, a Mulga (Acacia aneura) is a shrub or small tree native to arid outback Australia. ... Binomial name Corymbia opaca Corymbia opaca, formerly classified as Eucalyptus opaca, is a tree native to the Central Australian region, particularly around Alice Springs. ... This article is about the wooden implement. ... The abbreviation, acronym, or initialism SAP has several different meanings: SAP AG, a German software company, or its various products such as SAP R/3 or SAP Business Information Warehouse second audio program (television) Session Announcement Protocol Soritong audio player Simple As Possible Computer Architecture Structural Adjustment Program of the...

There are several rare and endangered species in the park. Most of them, like Adder's Tongue ferns, are restricted to the moist areas at the base of the formation, which are areas of high visitor use and subject to erosion. Species Ophioglossum azoricum Ophioglossum engelmanii Ophioglossum lusitanicum Ophioglossum pycnosticum Ophioglossum vulgatum Adders-tongues are plants of the genus Ophioglossum, which means snake-tongue. Ophioglossum is in the family Ophioglossaceae, in the order Ophioglossales, a small group of vascular plants. ...

Since the first Europeans arrived, 34 exotic plant species have been recorded in the park, representing about 6.4% of the total park flora. Some, such as perennial buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), were introduced to rehabilitate areas damaged by erosion. It is the most threatening weed in the park and has spread to invade water- and nutrient-rich drainage lines. A few others, such as burrgrass, were brought in accidentally, carried on cars and people. Species See text The sandburs are a genus (Cenchrus) of true grasses. ...

Climate and seasons

Bush tucker from the area of Alice Springs Desert Park.

The park receives an average rainfall of 307.7 mm (12.1 in) per year, and average temperatures are 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) in the summer and 4.7 °C (40.5 °F) in the winter. Temperature extremes in the park have been recorded at 45 °C (113 °F) during the summer and −5 °C (23 °F) during winter nights. UV levels are extreme most days, averaging between 11 and 15.^[8] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Alice Springs Desert Park, Bush Tucker The word Bushfood refers to any food native to Australia and used as sustenance by the original inhabitants, the Australian Aborigines, although it is sometimes used with the specific connotation of food found in the Outback while living on the land. It is also... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... For other uses, see Celsius (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Ultraviolet (disambiguation). ...

Local Aboriginal people recognise five seasons: This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

1. Piriyakutu (August/September) - Animals breed and food plants flower
2. Mai Wiyaringkupai (November/December) - The hot season when food becomes scarce
3. Itjanu (January/February/March) - Sporadic storms can roll in suddenly
4. Wanitjunkupai (April/May) - Cooler weather
5. Wari (June/July) - Cold season bringing morning frosts

Myths, Legends and Aboriginal traditions

According to the Anangu traditional landowners of Uluru^[9]

"The world was once a featureless place. None of the places we know existed until creator beings, in the forms of people, plants and animals, traveled widely across the land. Then, in a process of creation and destruction, they formed the landscape as we know it today. Anangu land is still inhabited by the spirits of dozens of these ancestral creator beings which are referred to as Tjukuritja or Waparitja."

There are a number of unauthenticated accounts of the Aboriginal ancesteral stories for the origins of Uluru and its many cracks and fissures. One such account, taken from Robert Layton's (1989) ULURU: An Aboriginal history of Ayers Rock^[10], reads as follows:

"Uluru (Ayers Rock) was built up during the creation period by two boys who played in the mud after rain. When they had finished their game they travelled south to Wiputa ..Fighting together, the two boys made their way to the table topped Mount Conner, on top of which their bodies are preserved as boulders" (Page 5) Mount Conner seen from the road to Uluru Mount Conner, reaching to 760 m (2,500 ft) above sea level and to 300 m (985 ft) above ground level, is the most easterly of central Australias monoliths. ...

Two other accounts are given in Norbert Brockman's (1997) Encyclopedia of Sacred Places^[11]. The first tells of serpent beings who waged many wars around Uluru, scarring the rock. The second tells of two tribes of ancestral spirits who were invited to a feast, but were distracted by the beautiful Sleepy Lizard Women and did not show up. In response, the angry hosts sang evil into a mud sculpture that came to life as the dingo. There followed a great battle, which ended in the deaths of the leaders of both tribes. The earth itself rose up in grief at the bloodshed, becoming Uluru.

The Commwealth Department of Environment's webpage advises^[9]:

"Many .. Tjukurpa such as Kalaya (Emu), Liru (poisonous snake), Lungkata (blue tongue lizard), Luunpa (kingfisher) and Tjintir-tjintirpa (willie wagtail) travel through Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Other Tjukurpa affect only one specific area. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is UNESCO World Heritage-listed in the Northern Territory of Australia. ...

"Kuniya, the woma python, lived in the rocks at Uluru where she fought the Liru, the poisonous snake."

It is sometimes reported that those who take rocks from the formation will be cursed and suffer misfortune. There have been many instances where people who removed such rocks attempted to mail them back to various agencies in an attempt to remove the perceived curse.^[12][13]

History

Archaeological findings to the east and west indicate that humans settled in the area more than 10,000 years ago.^[10] Europeans arrived in the Australian Western Desert in the 1870s. Uluru and Kata Tjuta were first mapped by Europeans in 1872 during the expeditionary period made possible by the construction of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line. In separate expeditions, Ernest Giles and William Gosse were the first European explorers to this area. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The Western Desert refers to a large tract of desert in the west of Australia, comprising the Gibson Desert, the Great Sandy and Little Sandy Deserts. ... Planting the first pole on the Overland Telegraph line to Carpentaria. ... Yours faithfully, Ernest Giles Photo in the frontespiece of his Australia Twice Traversed William Ernest Powell Giles (7 July 1835 – 13 November 1897), best known as Ernest Giles, was an Australian explorer who led three major expeditions in central Australia. ... William Christie Gosse (1842 – 1881), explorer, was born in Hertfordshire, England. ...

While exploring the area in 1872, Giles sighted Kata Tjuta from a location near Kings Canyon and called it Mount Olga, while the following year Gosse observed Uluru and named it Ayers Rock. Further explorations followed with the aim of establishing the possibilities of the area for pastoralism. In the late 1800s, pastoralists attempted to establish themselves in areas adjoining the South western/Petermann Reserve and interaction between Aṉangu and white people became more frequent and more violent. Due to the effects of grazing and drought, bush food stores became depleted. Competition for these resources created conflict between the two groups, resulting in more frequent police patrols. Later, during the depression in the 1930s, Aṉangu became involved in dingo scalping with 'doggers' who introduced Aṉangu to European foods and ways. Overview of Kings Canyon from the Rim Walk. ... Pastoralism is a form of farming, such as agriculture and horticulture. ... For other uses, see Dingo (disambiguation). ...

Between 1918 and 1921, large adjoining areas of South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory were declared as Aboriginal reserves, sanctuaries for nomadic people who had virtually no contact with European settlers. In 1920, part of Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park was declared an Aboriginal Reserve (commonly known as the South-Western or Petermann Reserve) by the Australian government under the Aboriginals Ordinance. For the song, see South Australia (song). ... Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2005-06)  - Product ($m)  $107,910 (4th)  - Product per capita  $53,134/person... For similar terms, see Northern Territories (disambiguation) Slogan or Nickname: The Territory, The NT, The Top End Motto(s): none Other Australian states and territories Capital Darwin Government Constitutional monarchy Administrator Ted Egan Chief Minister Clare Martin (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 2  - Senate seats 2 Gross Territorial Product (2004...

Helicopter photo of Uluru.

The first tourists arrived in the Uluru area in 1936. Beginning in the 1940s, permanent European settlement of the area for reasons of the Aboriginal welfare policy and to help promote tourism of Uluru. This increased tourism prompted the formation of the first vehicular tracks in 1948 and tour bus services began early in the following decade. In 1958, the area that would become the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park was excised from the Petermann Reserve; it was placed under the management of the Northern Territory Reserves Board and named the Ayers Rock - Mount Olga National Park. The first ranger was Bill Harney, a well-recognised central Australian figure.^[7] By 1959, the first motel leases had been granted and Eddie Connellan had constructed an airstrip close to the northern side of Uluru.^[2] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 1. ... NPS director Mary Bomar in her park ranger uniform A park ranger is a person charged with protecting and preserving protected parklands, forests (then called a forest ranger), wilderness areas, as well as other natural resources and protected cultural resources. ...

On 26 October 1985, the Australian government returned ownership of Uluru to the local Pitjantjatjara Aborigines, with one of the conditions being that the Aṉangu would lease it back to the National Parks and Wildlife agency for 99 years and that it would be jointly managed. The Aboriginal community of Mutitjulu, population of approximately 300, is located near the western end of Uluru. From Uluru it is 17 km (11 mi) by road to the tourist town of Yulara, population 3,000, which is situated just outside of the national park. is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Mutitjulu is an Australian Aboriginal community located at Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) in Australia. ... Yulara is an isolated town in Australias Northern Territory with approximately 2,000 inhabitants. ...

Tourism

Driving on Lasseter Highway from Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park.

The development of tourism infrastructure adjacent to the base of Uluru that began in the 1950s soon produced adverse environmental impacts. It was decided in the early 1970s to remove all accommodation-related tourist facilities and re-establish them outside the park. In 1975, a reservation of 104 square kilometres (40 sq mi) of land beyond the park's northern boundary, 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Uluru, was approved for the development of a tourist facility and an associated airport, to be known as Yulara. The camp ground within the park was closed in 1983 and the motels closed in late 1984, coinciding with the opening of the Yulara resort. In 1992, the majority interest in the Yulara resort held by the Northern Territory Government was sold and the resort was renamed Ayers Rock Resort. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 500 × 326 pixelsFull resolution (500 × 326 pixel, file size: 32 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Uluru... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 500 × 326 pixelsFull resolution (500 × 326 pixel, file size: 32 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Uluru... Tourist redirects here. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

Since listing the park as a World Heritage Site, annual visitor numbers rose to over 400,000 visitors by the year 2000. Increased tourism provides regional and national economic benefits. It also presents an ongoing challenge to balance conservation of cultural values and visitor needs. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State...

Climbers and a warning sign.

Climbers at Uluru ignore warning signs at their peril. ... Climbers at Uluru ignore warning signs at their peril. ...

Climbing

The local Aṉangu do not climb Uluru because of its great spiritual significance. They request that visitors not climb the rock, partly due to the path crossing a sacred traditional Dreamtime track, and also due to a sense of responsibility for the safety of visitors to their land. The Aṉangu believe they have a spiritual connection to Uluru, and feel great sadness when a person dies or is injured whilst climbing.

On 11 December 1983, then-Prime Minister of Australia Bob Hawke promised to hand back the land title to the Aṉangu traditional owners and agreed to the community's 10-point plan which included forbidding the climbing of Uluru. However, the government set access to climb Uluru and a 99-year lease, instead of the previously agreed upon 50-year lease, as conditions before the title was officially given back to the Aṉangu.^[14] is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Jimi Hendrix song, see 1983. ... The Prime Minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia, holding office on commission from the Governor-General. ... Robert James Lee (Bob) Hawke, AC (born 9 December 1929) was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia after previously being an Australian trade union leader. ...

Climbing Uluru is a popular attraction for visitors. A chain handhold added in 1964 and extended in 1976 makes the hour-long climb easier, but it is still a long (800 m/0.5 mi) and steep hike to the top, where it can be quite windy. An above-average level of fitness and a high tolerance to desert conditions is required. Climbing Uluru is generally closed to the public when high winds are recorded at the top. Over the years there have been at least 35 deaths relating to climbing incidents.^[8]

Photography

The Aṉangu also request that visitors not photograph certain sections of Uluru, for reasons related to traditional Tjukurpa beliefs. These areas are the sites of gender-linked rituals, and are forbidden ground for Aṉangu of the opposite sex of those participating in the rituals in question. The photographic ban is intended to prevent Aṉangu from inadvertently violating this taboo by encountering photographs of the forbidden sites in the outside world.^[15]

References

This article is about the metropolitan area in Australia. ... The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) was founded in 1967 and originally named the Ohio College Library Center. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 72nd day of the year (73rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) was founded in 1967 and originally named the Ohio College Library Center. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location in Santa Barbara County and the state of California Coordinates: , Country State County Santa Barbara Government  - Mayor Marty Blum Area  - Total 41. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 66th day of the year (67th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Fitzroy is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) was founded in 1967 and originally named the Ohio College Library Center. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Roseville Chase is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... Jean-François Millet Le Semeur (The Sower) Simon & Schuster logo, circa 1961. ... The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) was founded in 1967 and originally named the Ohio College Library Center. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... St Leonards is a suburb in Sydney, Australia about 5 km northwest of downtown Sydney. ... The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) was founded in 1967 and originally named the Ohio College Library Center. ... Charles Pearcy Mountford (1890-1976) was an Australian anthropologist and photographer. ... For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation). ... The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) was founded in 1967 and originally named the Ohio College Library Center. ... Fortitude Valley, also known simply as the Valley is a suburb of central Brisbane, Australia immediately north-east of the CBD. It is one of the hubs of Brisbanes nightlife, renowned for its nightclubs and adult entertainment. ... The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) was founded in 1967 and originally named the Ohio College Library Center. ...

See also

• Kata Tjuta
• Mount Augustus National Park
• Pitjantjatjara#Recognition of sacred sites
• Protected areas of the Northern Territory
• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Kata Tjuta Kata Tjuta, also known as Mount Olga (or colloquially as The Olgas), are large conglomerate rock formations, which are a remarkable group of 30 or so domed hills situated about 25 km from Uluru in the Northern Territory of Australia. ... Mount Augustus National Park in Western Australia, 852 km north of Perth, is a national park based around the largest monolith in the world called Mount Augustus, or Burringurrah as it is known by the local Wadjari Aboriginal people. ... Image:Some aboriginal communities in the northern territory australia. ... The Northern Territory contains 95 separate Protected Areas with a total area of 53,505 km² (land area: 51,269 km² – 3. ... Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is UNESCO World Heritage-listed in the Northern Territory of Australia. ...

External links

• Uluṟu - Kata Tjuṯa National Park - Australian Department of the Environment and Water Resources
• Northern Territory official tourism site
• Uluru/Ayers Rock - Sacred Destinations travel guide