Australia – Uluru

Uluru is considered being Australia’s best-known natural landmark. The huge ancient monolith is located in the (hot) heart of Australia’s “red centre” and is part of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Uluru is the Aboriginal and official name; it is also known as Ayers Rock, a name given in 1873 by William Gosse in honor of the Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers.

Uluru is an ancient landscape, rich in Australian indigenous culture and spirituality. The Aborigines of the area, who are known as the Anangu (traditional custodians of Uluru) believe this landscape was created by their ancestors at the beginning of time. They have been protecting these sacred lands ever since.

Uluru did arise about 600 million years ago; originally the rock sat on the bottom of a sea. Nowadays the highest point is about 348 meters above ground. The rock is 3.6 km’s long, 1.9 km’s wide and has a circumference of 9.4 km’s.
The surface is made up of valleys, ridges, caves and weird shapes that were created through erosion over millions of years. Surface oxidation of its iron content gives Uluru a striking orange-red hue.