The Australian continent, so distant and mysterious, beckons with its extraordinary beauty, clean air and distinctive Aboriginal culture. There, among the vast plains, is the mysterious mountain Uluru, which, from a height, looks like a substantial sleeping elephant. It is the largest monolith on the planet: at the base, it measures three by 3.5 km and rises to a height of more than 170 metres.
EXPLORING ULURU
The main feature of the rock remains the notable colour change. Uluru is made up of sandstone, whose properties cause it to be coloured differently at different times:
- dark purple at dawn;
- purplish-red, then pink in the morning;
- Golden hues appear in the midday sun;
- blue with a lilac tint when it rains.
- Uluru at sunrise
- Uluru in the morning
- Golden hues
- Mount Uluru in rainy weather.
The quirkiness of nature is enhanced by the fact that under this rock, there are underground lakes, only in some places coming to the surface by small bodies of water inside the caves. That is why more than 400 thousand tourists visit this mysterious place annually. Travel agencies willingly include excursions to Uluru in their tours. Nevertheless, when buying vouchers to Australia, it is worth ensuring that this unforgettable journey is planned with them.
HISTORY OF THE WONDER
The oldest mysterious rock is about 700 million years old. The Anangu tribe gave it the name Uluru. Notably, this word is not translated from the local language but refers to this particular mountain. People have settled near the sacred mountain for about 10,000 years, confirmed by rock paintings in amazing overhanging caves. On the walls, you can make out images of local deities: the snake Kunia, the patroness of the tribe of the same name and the snake Lira, the protector of the Hare Kangaroo tribe. According to legends, the drawings were made by giants. Survival of people in such harsh conditions was helped by drinking water flowing right at the foot of the mountain.
Europeans discovered this miracle only in 1892: traveller Ernest Giles was struck by the unusual landscape, and since then, tourists have been striving to see the majestic rock. A little earlier, in 1873, its detailed description was made by British explorer William Goss, who was the first to climb the peak and gave it the European name Ayers Rock – Ayers Rock (after Henry Ayers, the governor of South Australia). The mountain now officially has the dual name Uluru – Ayers Rock.
ULURU TOURIST
Before entering the continent, you must obtain a permit to visit the country. Local authorities have established strict requirements, so it is better to find a reliable company that will help draw up visa documents according to all the rules and independently transfer them to the Embassy. You should also pay attention to the fact that there are different registration nuances for each type of visa.
Australia is located in the centre of the continent, in the Northern Territory. From Sydney to the nearest town, Alice Springs, fly more than 3 hours. Then, it is necessary to get to the town of Yularom where tours to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park depart.
Tourists climb the cliff. The $25 entrance name ticket is valid for three days. During this time, you can take your time to explore the entire National Park. The natives protect their sacred shrines, so you can only drive along the designated tourist routes.
Although it is considered blasphemy to climb the rock, there is an equipped path with a railing to prevent you from falling. At the top, there is a surprise for tourists: a metal shield marked on the sides of the world.
However, you should respect the feelings of the natives and do not take photos of the mountain in two sacred places. For those who want to capture the beauty of Uluru, a shooting point is organised on a unique platform with cosy armchairs.
Want to experience the “heart” of Australia, Uluru Rock? The Australian Exotics Uluru tour includes a visit to this unique chameleon mountain.
INTERESTING FACTS
The fantasticaborigines consider the relief of the rock in the form of numerous furrows and round potholes to be the footprints of the Kura-Punya dog. According to legend, a vast animal the size of a house was preparing to attack hunters. Suddenly, the cry of the cockabarra woke the people, and they were saved from the monster’s fangs.
The second ominous legend describes Uluru’s appearance. The Windulka tribe invited the Mala (hare kangaroos) and Kunia (snakes) tribes to visit. However, they became fascinated with the lizard women and did not show up. The Windulki then set upon them sinister dogs without hair and poisonous snakes. As a result of that massive battle, Mala and Kunia died, and Uluru rose from the depths of the earth to contain the souls of the warriors. Since then, the mountain has been considered sacred, and whoever takes a piece of it will be cursed. Whether this is true is a mystery, but hundreds of tourists mail back pieces of the rock…
Unique rock paintings almost disappeared. The guides used to pour water on the walls so that the images could be seen more clearly. Because of this, the lower part of the drawings began to be erased. Fortunately, it was noticed in time and banned.
There are several versions of what Uluru is:
- “A mountain iceberg” that connects underground to Mount Olga (Kata Tjuta), named in honour of the Grand Duchess, daughter of Russian Emperor Nicholas I.
- A meteorite that crashed into the ground.
- A remnant of an ancient mountain chain that collapsed over millions of years. Particles of rock were scattered around, and the rock was eroded and rounded with deep furrows from the flowing torrential streams. The change of storms and heat caused the sandstone to be covered with cracks up to 2m deep.
Mount Uluru, Ayers Rock, and Red Mountain are sacred places for Aboriginal people and a strong magnet for tourists. Australia’s famous landmark is recognised by UNESCO as the Eighth Wonder of the World and is listed as a World Heritage Site. It is a fantastic place that brings lasting impressions and reminds us of the beauty of nature created by the Almighty.
Experience the beauty of Northern Territory on Uluru tours from Alice Springs. Book your adventure now and explore the iconic Australian landmark with expert guides Autopia and Wildlife tour GLTG Group.
