Ululu National Park and Kata Tjuta. Uluru-Katayuta National Park Plants of the Uluru-Kata-Tjuta Reserve

The sights of Australia conquer even the most fastidious foreigner.

Most often, when they are mentioned, the image of the mountain slopes of Uluru and Kata Tjuta pops up in memory.

Mount Urulu itself is truly unique. It stands in the middle of a plain with sparse vegetation.

The rounded surface of the reddish rock resembles a huge sleeping elephant.

Urulu rock has been living in Australia for almost 680 million years. It is located in the north of the continent near the city of Alice Springs. Its dimensions are quite significant: the length is 3.6 kilometers, the width reaches 3 kilometers.

In the distant past, on the site of the rock, there was Lake Amadius, in the center of which there was an island. The rocks of the island eventually fell off and sank to the bottom of the lake, forming the outlines of an elaborate stone rock. When you look at Uluru from a distance, its surface seems perfectly smooth. But as soon as you get closer to it, you can see that the rock is riddled with cracks, bumps and furrows.

Uluru is located in the desert and is constantly exposed to winds, hurricanes and heavy rains. There are sharp temperature changes here: from the exhausting heat during the day to the cold, which reduces teeth, at night. It is for this reason that cracks form on the surface of the "stone giant".

Uluru is not only stone. The rock consists of red sandstone, thanks to which it can change colors. This can be observed in the morning and evening hours. In the morning, the mountain takes on a purple hue, and when the sun rises high in the sky, Uluru appears radiantly golden. Such color overflows of the rock can be observed throughout the day.

The famous Australian landmark was first seen by Ernest Giles, and after a year, Uluru was conquered by the British William Goss. It was he who gave the rock a new name - Ayers Rock - in honor of the Prime Minister of South Australia. This led to the first influx of tourists. But the local natives who owned the rock were outraged that they began to use it as a landmark. They claim that Uluru is sacred, and gives strength to a person, if it is correctly "communicated" with it. Local natives come to the rock to perform a ceremony and bow to the spirit of the earth.

But the rock continues to be used as a local landmark. Not far from the mountain, a village service is organized, providing accommodation for visiting guests. You can not only look at the Uluru rock, but also climb it. A narrow path with a fence was laid on its surface, which allows you to hold on while climbing. From the top of Uluru, a beautiful panorama of the desert area opens up. People come here to admire the amazingly beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

In general, Kata Tjuta is 36 dome-shaped rock formations. Each rock has its own size. In Kata-Juta, layers of sedimentary rocks can be seen. It is believed that they appeared during the Flood, when the waters rose above the earth and gradually flooded it. Erosion from Noah's flood gave the tops of the rocks a rounded shape. The amazing outlines of the domes of Kata-Jut are explained only by the great events that took place in the world millions of years ago and which are described in the Bible.

Uluru and Kata Tjuta are amazing creations of nature that deserve admiration. More than 100 species of plants grow here, 24 species of mammals and 72 species of reptiles have been recorded. Here you can not only look at Australian sights, but also learn the history of the local Aborigines.

Video: Uluru and Kata Tjuta

• Address: Lasseter Hwy, Uluru NT 0872, Australia
• Telephone: +61 8 8956 1128
• Website: http://www.parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru/
• Square: 1,326 km²
• Foundation date: 1987

Sometimes it seems that there is some injustice in the fact that one country owns any wealth, sights or monuments in an amount much larger than neighboring and other states. But if we talk about, then how great it is that for a decade now the country's authorities have been making a lot of efforts to preserve as much as possible intact everything that has been created by nature for millions of years. In this country, there is simply a huge number of reserves and parks of various levels, such as national park"Uluru - Kata Tjuta".

Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park is located in the northern part of Australia, in the so-called Northern Territory. Geographically, to the north of the park is the city (distance 1431 kilometers), and 440 kilometers to the northeast - the city. The total area of ​​the park is 1326 sq km. The important components of the park are the famous ones, as well as Mount Kata Tjuta, the distance to which is 40 kilometers from the mentioned rocks. When visiting the park, keep in mind that the Great Central Road passes through it.

When visiting the park, it should be borne in mind that in summer the average temperatures are kept at 45 degrees Celsius, and in winter around -5 degrees. As for precipitation, approximately 307.7 mm falls from it annually. It is noteworthy that the aborigines of the Anangu tribe live on the territory of the park in the reservation, most of whom work as guides, conductors and tour guides for tourist groups in the park.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is very important for its country: it was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 1977, and since 1987 it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The word park is poorly associated with the real landscape of the protected area - the desert. The characteristic color of the rocks is red, geologists believe that this is due to the presence of iron oxide in the rocks. By the way, the rocks of Uluru and Mount Kata Tjuta are two hills of the same formation. According to geological exploration, they were formed at one time in the form of a large mountain range, but now it comes to the surface only with these two hills.

All the beauty flora can be observed in winter and after the rainy season: during this period, the time comes for the flowering of all green diversity. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is home to almost every type of flora that fills Central Australia. Together with meeting animals, they create a real single biological cycle. Interestingly, some species of plants and animals are still used by local natives in the form of medicines or food.

Please note that the behavior appearance tourists must strictly comply with local regulations: serious monetary fines are imposed for its violation.

How to get to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park?

Since back in the second half of the 20th century, the red rocks attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists, since 1975, a real Yulara resort with all the benefits of civilization, and an airport near it, arose 15 kilometers from Uluru. You can fly here from almost any major city in Australia. In Yulara, you can rent a nice hotel room, visit restaurants and cafes, swim in the pool and rent a car or buy tickets on a group tour.

There are several official routes in the park. Thanks to this, you can see all the rock formations and local landscapes from the most favorable side. For example, the "Main Trail" route introduces you to the Ulira rock, but local natives consider it sacrilege to climb the mountain itself, incl. having a desire, you will have to do it yourself, there is a path. And the trail "Valley of the Winds" leads only to Mount Kata Tjuta, two good observation platforms are also built here. At the entrance to the park in the cultural center, you can buy souvenirs made by the natives by hand, and get acquainted with their culture, history and traditions.

Uluru National Park - Kata Tjuta - unique nature reserve in the heart of the Australian continent, which since 1987 has been under the auspices of UNESCO. Its main attraction is Uluru (Ayers Rock) - the main shrine of the Australian aborigines and one of the most recognizable places in Oceania.

History of Uluru National Park - Kata Tjuta

The area at the foot of Mount Uluru, rich in water sources, was inhabited by Australian Aborigines more than 10,000 years ago. The Anangu tribe living here was engaged in hunting and gathering and revered the mountain as a place of sacred rites.

The first Europeans in this area appeared already in 1870 when planning a telegraph line. Ernest Giles discovered Mount Kata Tjuta in 1872 and named it Olga, after the Russian Grand Duchess, the daughter of Emperor Nicholas I and the wife of King Charles I of Württemberg. Later, in 1873, William Goss discovered the Uluru rock, which received the name Ayers Rock, in honor of the South Australian governor.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, settlers tried to use the land in the area for cattle breeding and Agriculture, which led to numerous skirmishes with the natives. To resolve the conflict, the authorities recognized this part of the continent as a reservation of the indigenous population of Australia.
In the 1930s the territory in the vicinity of Uluru began to gain immense popularity among tourists, and in 1958 this area was declared a National Park. Later, in 1976, the Australian authorities returned these lands to the Anangu tribe, who in 1985 leased it to the parks agency for a period of 99 years.

Attractions of the National Park and Mount Uluru in Australia with photos and descriptions

Uluru Rock (Ayers Rock)

The main attraction of the Uluru National Park - Kata Tjuta - the mysterious Mount Uluru. This unique natural landmark, which changes its color during the day, annually attracts more than 400,000 tourists.

There are many legends associated with the main shrine of the Australian Aborigines. Some of the caves in the mountain are considered portals to another world and tourists are not allowed to enter or even take pictures. This object is considered to be the intersection of invisible paths along which the ancient inhabitants of these places and the souls of their ancestors walk.

Did you know? In the vicinity of Mount Uluru, triangular UFOs have been repeatedly seen. Their appearance was recorded even by astronomers.

Mount Olga (Kata Tjuta)

In addition to Mount Uluru, another hill of the National Park, Mount Olga, is of considerable interest to tourists. It consists of 36 rounded rocks, the highest of which reaches 546 meters. In the language of the natives, the name of this place sounds like Kata Tjuta, which means "many heads" in translation.

Flora and fauna

Despite the conditions of the desert area, there are 416 representatives of the flora in the park. Many of the plants of this region have adapted to the specific conditions of the desert savanna, in which rains are very rare. Some of them need heat or even a fire in order to bloom, while others rise only after a rainstorm.
As for the fauna of the park, unfortunately, it has been significantly affected by human activities and animals introduced by Europeans. Many representatives of local species have disappeared or are on the verge of extinction. However, in the remote corners of the reserve, tourists can still meet red kangaroos, emu or motley monitor lizard.

Uluru waterfalls

Of great interest to tourists are the Uluru waterfalls in Australia. Huge streams of water are formed here after heavy rains and look especially picturesque in this desert area.

Uluru Park Activities - Kata Tjuta

The territory of the National Park belongs to the Australian Anangu tribe. In addition to the fact that the natives receive 20% of each ticket sold, they also conduct tours and take pictures with tourists for an additional fee.
In this area, there are many tourist routes of varying complexity. The best way to see Mount Uluru is a walk along the “Main Path”, and moving along the “Valley of the Winds” road, you will find the amazing monolith of Kata Tjuta.

The sights of Uluru - Kata Tjuta can also be viewed from a height by ordering a helicopter tour for this or visiting one of the observation decks in the National Park.

Important! There are many ways to climb Mount Uluru. But the natives consider this sacrilege, after which an accident awaits the sinner.

How to get there

You can visit the National Park by flying from any major Australian city to the Connellan airport, 25 kilometers from which the rock of Uluru is located. You can get to it by one of the regular buses or by renting a car in the town of Yulara.

Admission fees and hours of operation

Uluru National Park is open daily from 5:00 am to 7:00 pm.
The entrance ticket to the park will cost you 25 Australian dollars (approximately 18 euros). The duration of its action is 3 days from the date of purchase, which gives tourists the opportunity for a thorough acquaintance with most of the sights of Uluru - Kata Tjuta.

Video overview of the sights of Uluru National Park - Kata Tjuta

Uluru National Park is one of interesting places for relax . Especially for you, we have selected for you a short and bright video about the bewitching views of Uluru.

Perhaps our readers were lucky enough to visit the Uluru Katayata National Park in Australia? Write about your impressions in the comments!

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a desert reserve in the heart of the Australian mainland.

General information about Uluru

• Full name: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (English Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park).
• IUCN category: Uluru - II-nd (national park).
• Region: Northern Territory, Australia.
• Area: 1326 km2.
• Date of foundation: 1958
• Relief: deserted slightly undulating plain with single monoliths.
• Climate: arid, tropical.
• Visit - paid
• Official website: parksaustralia...uluru...
• Purpose of Creation: Preservation natural complexes and landscapes of the Australian desert, as well as the culture of the Anangu aborigines.

Uluru Visitor Information

"Uluru-Kata-Tyuta" is located in the southern part of the Northern Territories - one of the subjects of the federation. The park is open all year round, paid entrance. Favorable period to visit - in or Australian winter (May - October), when during the day the air does not warm up above + 25 ° C. The protected area is under dual management - the Australian Conservation Service and the Anangu Aboriginal community. Indigenous people lead excursions around the park, telling the story of its creation, about fauna and flora.

At the Uluru-Kata-Tjuta Cultural Center, visitors can learn more about the creation of a protected area, get acquainted with the traditions and life of the natives, and purchase original handmade souvenirs.
Ayers Rock Resort operates within the park. In "Uluru-Kata-Tjuta" there are many routes of different lengths and degrees of difficulty. For example, the main trail leads to Uluru, and if you walk about 7 km along the Valley of the Wind route, you can get to Mount Kata Tjuta. This is the easiest and shortest path with a length of only 2.6 km.
The best time to walk around the park is early in the morning, before a lot of people show up.

The sun at sunset creates an enchanting picture, the rocks begin to glow from brown-gold to soft pink and purple red. The observation decks offer excellent panoramic views. Sitting on a bench, you can relax and enjoy the delights of ever-changing landscapes.
Since this area is sacred to the Aboriginal tribe, the behavior of visitors is strictly regulated. Large monetary fines are provided for any violation of the order.
The national park is located approximately 365 km southwest of Alice Springs and can be reached by road in just 4.5 hours.

History of Uluru National Park

Since ancient times, the desert territories of the center of Australia belonged to the Anangu tribe, who were engaged in hunting and gathering here 10 thousand years ago.
Only in 1870 did the first European expeditions visit these places, the participants of which were explorers Ernest Giles and William Christie Goss. In 1872, a telegraph line appeared, and by the end of the year, the first geographic Maps Uluru-Kata-Tjuta area.
When surveying the territory, Ernest Giles saw Kata Tjuta from the side of the Royal Canyon. He named it Mount Olga in honor of the daughter of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I - Grand Duchess Olga, who was also the wife of Charles I, King of Württemberg. Later, William Goss discovered Uluru, which he named after Sir Henry Ayers, Governor General South Australia.
The purpose of further research was to determine the possibility of using this area for cattle breeding, since in the late XIX - early XX centuries. settlers from the Old World began to move here. Because of the creation of farms, they had numerous skirmishes with the indigenous people. In order to somehow solve this problem, in 1920, part of the Northern Territories of Australia was given over to the reservation for the Aborigines.
Information about the red mountains in the middle of the desert flew around Earth, and since 1936 tourists began to visit the territory near Kata Tjuta and Uluru. In 1948, a road was laid to Uluru, since the 1950s. bus tours were organized here.
Due to the increasing anthropogenic pressure in 1958, the area with the mountain formations of Kata Tjuta and Uluru was declared a national park. In 1975, the Yulara resort with a small airport was built near Uluru.
In 1976, the government of the Commonwealth of Australia returned the rights to the territory of Uluru from Kata Tjuta to the natives inhabiting it, and in 1985 they leased it for 99 years to the Federal Agency for National Parks of the country. In 1987, the Uluru-Kata-Tyuta National Park was included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites, and in 1995. this organization for the preservation of the culture of the Anangu natives and nature, awarded the national park the Picasso gold medal. Every year, about 500,000 people come to Uluru-Kata-Tyuta for excursions and recreation.

Hiking in Uluru-Kata National Park

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is located in the very center of the mainland, it is also called the Red Heart of Australia.
Most of the protected area is desert.
The geological formations of Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the main attractions of the park.
Animals come to the spring at the foot of Uluru to drink, and numerous caves are hidden at the base of the mountain monolith - a kind of vernissage of rock art...
Ancient petroglyphs depicting the deities anangu Lungkatu - a blue-tongued lizard, Lira - a brown snake, Kalayu - an emu.

Facts and Natural Wonders of Uluru Park

The name Uluru - a sandstone monolith - in the Anangu language means "the place where the shadow is." A little to the west lie the rounded rock formations of Kata Tjuta. Australian Aborigines call them "the mountain with many heads." And the highest of the mountains is Olga (1066 m), it is 198 meters higher than Uluru.
After long studies managed to find out that Uluru is part of a huge mountain range lying at a depth of up to 6 km.

Kata Tjuta and Uluru, connecting underground, are a single geological formation. They are red in color due to iron oxides, which are part of their rock, formed by coarse-grained gray arkose sandstone, which is formed during the destruction of granites. Also, the rock composition of the monoliths includes feldspar and quartz.
These mountains are sacred to the Anangu tribe. According to one of the legends, Uluru was created by their ancient ancestors, the Tjukuritja. These were not people, but gigantic animals, their traces formed lakes, and giant bodies formed mountains.

Facts about Uluru-Kata Tjuta:

• 348 meters - Average height of Uluru
• 869 meters - The maximum height of Uluru
• 10 kilometers - Radius Uluru
• 546 meters - Average height of Kata Tjuta
• 36 - Number of Kata Tjuta hills

About 500,000,000 years ago, the site of the park was the bottom of an ancient sea. Bottom sediments were sand, pebbles, sometimes sandstone. The remains of this ancient sea can be seen in the basin of the drying up drainless salt lake Amadeus. So the landscapes of the park are dunes and sandy plains, covered with rare trees, stunted shrubs and turf grasses. The Musgrave mountain range rises 100 km from the park.

More interesting things about the park:

• Rocky monument Uluru - one of the symbols of the state of Australia
• The large red kangaroo is Australia's largest marsupial. Prefers to settle mainly in savannahs or low woodlands, sometimes enters desert areas
• Tourists conquering Uluru along one of the sightseeing routes seem like ants on the red body of this hulk
• Thickets of malga, or veinless acacia, are an important ritual place for the aborigines of Australia
• Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) - a second feral dog, appeared in Australia around 4000 BC.
• The red domes of Kata Tjuta are located 32 km from Uluru, and the locals call the surrounding area the “Valley of the Winds”
• One-humped camels, or dromedaries, were brought to Australia in the middle of the 19th century. Animals acclimatized to local conditions and became wild, their number is now up to 50,000 heads

Plants of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Reserve

flora national park make up 416 plant species. Among them there are rare, characteristic only for the protected area and directly for Australia. Endemics of the park can be found on the mountain formations of Kata Tjuta and Uluru.
The vegetation has adapted to the harsh conditions of the desert savanna, where life depends on irregular rains. Some plants are able to survive fires, and some need them to bloom. After a rainstorm, a thick carpet of ephemeral annuals of the Amaranthaceae (Amaranthaceae), Legumes (Fabaceae), Compositae (Asteraceae) families appears in the park. Many areas are dominated by turf Basedow trio (Triodia basedowii) and prickly trio (Triodiapungens) with a huge root system that prevents the movement of desert sands. Its roots are harvested for resin. They are pre-crushed to separate the resin particles. These particles are then heated until they fuse together in a mold, forming a black resin that the natives use hot for hunting and making tools.
Woody vegetation is represented by thickets of shrubs of malga, or veinless acacia (Acacia apeiga), with wide round leaves, and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.).
The plants of the park play an important role in the life of the natives; for the collection of certain species, whole ceremonies are arranged. Mulga (Acacia apeiga) and oblique eucalyptus (Eucalyptus obliqua) are used to make spearheads, boomerangs and kitchen utensils. Sansevieria trifasciata (Sansevieria trifasciata) is indispensable as disinfectant and for inhalation with cough and runny nose. Other trees are also actively used, for example, camaldulian eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), duboisia myoporoides (Duboisia myoporoides) and Grevillea Banks (Grevillea banksii).
The habitat of the rare common grasshopper (Ophioglossum vulgatum) in the park is limited to wet areas on monolithic rocks, which are often visited by tourists. Since the first European visited the park, 34 exotic plant species have been discovered here, which is about 6.4% of the entire flora of the protected area. Some of them, such as buffalo grass, or thorny bristle grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), have been used to restore an area prone to erosion.

Animals Uluru

Fauna, despite the desert nature of the area, is quite diverse. However, there is currently a steady decline in animal species, especially beasts. Thus, out of 46 species of mammals, only 25 have survived in the protected area.
Extinct ones include the kuzu (Trichosurus vulpecula), the hare-like kangaroo (Lagorchestes hirsutus), the rabbit bandicoot (Macrotis lagotis), the kyosh-tailed kangaroo (Bettongia lesueur), the black-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale lateralis), and the eyed hen (Leipoa ocellata).
The marsupial comb-tailed mouse (Dasycercus cristicauda) is on the verge of extinction, but it can still be found in a limited area of ​​sandy soils - in a narrow strip of the park from Uluru to the northern border. There are also two species of marsupial moles (Notoryctes), the Australian Ramsey python (Aspidites ramsayi) and the great desert skink (Egernia kintorei).
population bats in the park includes at least seven species that depend on daytime roosting sites inside the caves and faults of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Most of them find food in the air, flying only 100 meters from the rocks.
The avifauna of the park consists of 178 species of birds. The main feathered inhabitants include the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), the black-throated butcher (Cracticus nigrogularis), the buzzard kite (Hamirostra melanosternon), the black-faced swallow-tailed shrike (Artamus cinereus) and the red-chested minted wagtail (Epthianura tricolor).
The park is rich in reptiles: there are 74 species of them. Four species of frogs, such as the coral-toed littoria (Litoria caerulea), are found in large numbers during the rainy season in Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
The Anangu continue to hunt animals in the remote areas of the park and other lands they own. At the same time, hunting for a large red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), African great bustard (Ardeotis kori), emu and large lizards such as the pied monitor (Varanus varius) and the giant monitor lizard (Varanus giganteus) is prohibited.

The main factor in the extinction of about 40% of the native species of Central Australia was the strong pressure from imported animals. So, house mice (Mus musculus), camels(Camelus dromedarius), foxes (Vulpes spp.), cats, dogs and rabbits have spread throughout the park, and their density is especially high near Kata Tjuta and Uluru.
It was only after the introduction of a program to control the number of animals that the huge population of rabbits was reduced.
This led to a noticeable restoration of vegetation and a reduction in the number of predators. Camels are responsible for the decline of plant species, especially most succulents such as the dessert kwandong (Santalum acuminatum). The house mouse (Mus musculus) is an active habitat disturber for native rodent species.
In managing the populations of these introduced species, the knowledge and skills of the Anangu trackers have proved invaluable. In addition, park rules prohibit visitors from bringing animals into the specially protected area, with an exception made for guide dogs for blind and deaf visitors. In other cases, special permission is required from
national park authorities

But even taking into account some restrictions that are quite normal for protected areas, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta park has been and remains one of the most mysterious, beautiful and interesting regions on the entire continent.

National park in the central part of the country, southwest of the city of Alice Springs. Established in 1936, area 132.5 thousand hectares.

Most routes and sightseeing tours to Uluru National Park start at. A 2000 km road awaits you in the very depths of the continent, which will lead to the symbol of Australia.

The local Anangu tribe controls the movement of tourists, so it must be remembered that for them this is a sacred place, and it should be treated with respect.

Attractions of Uluru Park

The main attraction of the park is Uluru (Ayers Rock) - the largest monolith in the world (height 348 m, perimeter 9.4 km), with caves, springs and rock paintings of natives.

The park is home to 20 species of mammals: giant red kangaroo, rocky kangaroo, marsupial jerboa, dingo dog and others.

The appearance of the famous rock Uluru (Ayers Rock)

It all started 500 million years ago. Layer after layer of residual rocks accumulated. 50 million years later there was an advance and a rapid retreat of the sea. After that, the sandstone layer was eroded for centuries. So Uluru appeared in the center of Australia.

The nights are cold here, and during the day the heat reaches 38 °C. The expansion and contraction of the stone leads to the formation of many crevices and cracks.

Discovery of Uluru rock

Ernest Giles, a European, was the first to see the rock in 1872, but he could not reach it.

A year later, the Englishman William Goss climbed to the top, who gave it the name Ayers Rock, in honor of the Secretary of State of South Australia, who later became the country's prime minister.

However, the natives believe that Uluru was created by ancient spirits.

Amazing Features of Uluru Rock

Sandstone crystals, along with iron oxide, reflect light, which explains the famous color change from rusty to bright scarlet.

Near the rock itself and in its vertical crevices, one encounters splendid vegetation unexpected for these places. The fact is that Uluru accumulates water during rare but heavy rains. After them, waterfalls flow down the slopes - an amazing sight!