Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is a national park in Australia. Since 1987, on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Uluru-Kata Tuta National Park is located in Northern Territory, 1,431 kilometers south of Darwin and 440 kilometers southwest of Alice Springs. The park covers an area of 1,326 km2. Parts of the park are the famous Uluro rocks, as well as located west of Ulura, 40 kilometers from Kata Tuta ( Mount Olga ). The territory of the park is inhabited by Aborigines Ananga, many of which currently work as guides and guides of tourist groups.
According to geologists, there was a sea in place of the current Uluro-Kata Tuta National Park about 500 million years ago. For hundreds of thousands of years, deposits of sand and pebbles were created at its bottom, which turned into sandstone over time. According to the latest research, Ulura is not a separate hill, but it is part of the ridge, which currently lies below the surface of the earth and goes outside only in Ulura and Kata Tut. Both of these elevations are interconnected underground into a single geological formation. The red color of the rocks is caused by the mineral hematite ( iron oxide ) which is part of the rock. Uluru protrudes over the plain on average by 348 m, and its highest point is 869 m above sea level. The visible part of the rock has 3.4 km in length and 2 km in width.
The first Europeans visited these places in 1870. In 1872, maps of the Uluru-Kata Tuta region were compiled. At the turn of the 19-20th centuries, European farmers began to settle here, which led to numerous clashes between them and Aboriginal people. In 1920, a reservation for Aboriginal people was created in part of the territory of the current national park. Tourists began visiting the area around Ulura-Kata Tuta since 1936. In 1976, Australia transferred rights to the park to Aboriginal people living in it, who then leased the park to the Australian government for a period of 99 years. In 1985, the Australian government returned both of these rocks to the Northern Aboriginal territories, as the National Park is located on their sacred land. Aborigines believe that once in these places life itself originated.
The local Ananga tribe considers Ulura and Kata-Tzuta to be sacred places where in ancient times there was a battle between snake people. The female python Kuniya crawled to Ulura to lay her eggs. After finishing the masonry, she heard that the poisonous Lira, a brown snake, had killed her nephew. Wanting revenge, Kuniya crawled to the foot of Ulura, into a place called Mutiyulu. There she met one of the servants of Lear. She tried to enchant him with a dance, but the servant lifted her to laugh. In anger, she grabbed a handful of sand and threw it to the ground. And where the grains of sand fell, both trees and herbs became poisonous. But the servant of Lear all laughed. In the end, Kuniya grabbed her stick and hit him on the head. Her rage was so great that the second blow killed Servant Lear. The deep dents from the blows of her stick are still visible on Ulur - they are imprinted on a stone. Kuniya and her nephew turned into rainbow snakes. They still live in Mutitiyulu and look after the Ananga tribe. Aborigines Ananga believe that the sacred place of Ulura is endowed with special power, this is the door between the world of people and spirits. Climbing to the top is considered a terrible sacrilege in them, and not one of the Aboriginal people dares to do this, because they are afraid to bring the wrath of spirits. Anang is convinced that Ulura still takes away human lives and will be bad for those who climb the mountain. At the foot of the rock there are many caves and cave paintings. You can climb to the top using the ancient sacred path.
The natural landscape of the park is the desert. Animals and plants that live in it create a single biological cycle. Some of these plants and animals use natives as a means of traditional medicine or food. The venerable world of Uluru-Kata Tut is represented by almost all species found in Central Australia. Some of these plants are extremely rare and are common only in the national park. Various species of eucalyptus, acacia, and graville grow from trees here. Plant flowering time comes in winter and after rains.
Today, hundreds of thousands of tourists come to these places. In 1970, the infrastructure of the park was moved beyond its borders, and in 1975, the resort of Yulara and a small airport were built near Uluru. There are a lot of routes in the park today. Walking along the Main Path, you can see Ulura. A trail called « Wind Valley » leads to Mount Kat Tutus. There are viewing platforms with stunning views. Having visited the Cultural Center, you can get acquainted with the life and traditions of Aboriginal tribes and buy original handmade souvenirs.
