|
Why Ayers Rock
is special
The icon of Australia is the world's second largest free standing monolith. Ayers Rock rises solitarily
348 meters (1141 feet) above the desert plain and is over 9 kilometers (5 miles)
in circumference. It's also known for its sacredness and changing colors.
Interesting insights
about Ayers Rock
 The rock is sacred to the
local Anunga Aborigines.
Ayers Rock is the popular
English designation (named after Sir Henry Ayers, a 19th century Australian governor). However,
the rock's official appellation is Uluru, the one given by the Anunga Aborigines
of Australia.
Although
Ayers Rock is less than half the size of the world's largest monolith (Mt.
Augustus in Western Australia), it has a more dramatic shape and overall
appearance.
Ayers Rock is like an
iceberg because only its tip is visible - the rest extends deep into the ground.
The monolith is sandstone, the
product of layers of sand laid down in an ancient sea bed about 500 million
years ago.
The rock's surface conspicuously
changes colors as the day passes - and according to weather conditions, your
distance from it, and your viewing angle. Hues include reds, oranges, yellows, and grays.
Ayers
Rock is at its visual best at sunrise and sunset.
The
monolith is pock-marked with small caves - see black dots on the photo above.
The Anungas discourage
(but do not prohibit) visitors from climbing their sacred mountain.
Roughly 1 out of 10
visitors climb the rock, using an ancient Aborigine trail. A few slip and lose their
lives each year. Once on top, the view is staggering. Note: The trail is closed when it is
windy, rainy or excessively hot.
If
you elect not to climb Ayers Rock, there are several interesting ground level paths. One stretches completely around the
monolith. An Aborigine guide will explain his culture's mythology relating to
the rock and will show you rock paintings.
Ayers
Rock is in the middle of Australia in the middle of nowhere. The nearest modest sized
city (Alice Springs) is nearly 500 kilometers (300 miles) away.
If you
base yourself in Alice Springs, you can make sort of a loop visiting three of my travel
wonder medal winners in Australia: Ayers Rock (gold), the Olgas (bronze), and Kings Canyon
(bronze). This proximity enhances your Ayer's rock trip.
Think twice about
visiting Ayers Rock in
the height of summer
That's mid-December to
mid-March in the southern hemisphere. Average midday temperatures are close to
38°C (100°F) and have soared as high as 45°C (113°F). Remember, you're in a desert.
View my other gold,
silver & bronze medal
winners in Canada
 
My Australian slang
guide for travelers
What every visitor should know.
My Australian cuisine guide
View my next
top 100 world wonder
 |
