Well here we are in Coober Pedy. Would have been a post at Ayers Rock but the computer is out of action...thanks Sue!!
Ayers Rock really does have the "Wow" factor as it looms up out of the landscape. Ayers Rock is the most commonly used name, especially outside Australia. Ayers Rock is called "Uluru"by Aborigines and is a sacred site for them. Uluru is one of the oldest rocks on Earth.
Uluru is located in the middle of Australia, in fact very close to the actual geographical centre. It is not the world's largest monolith, this title actually belongs to Mt Augustus in Western Australia.
Uluru is
862.5 metres above sea level,
348 metres (1141 feet) high,
3.6 km long (2.2 miles),
1.9 km wide (1.2 miles),
9.4 km or 5.8 miles around the base (that's walking),
covers 3.33 km2 (1.29 miles2),
extends about several km/miles into the ground, it is not exactly known how far (despite the numbers you might have read). Bit like an iceberg in that we can only see the very top bit above the surface.
862.5 metres above sea level,
348 metres (1141 feet) high,
3.6 km long (2.2 miles),
1.9 km wide (1.2 miles),
9.4 km or 5.8 miles around the base (that's walking),
covers 3.33 km2 (1.29 miles2),
extends about several km/miles into the ground, it is not exactly known how far (despite the numbers you might have read). Bit like an iceberg in that we can only see the very top bit above the surface.
Research suggests that Aborigines have lived in the area for at least 10,000 years.
The first white person to see Uluru, at least from a distance, was the explorer Ernest Giles in October 1872.
The first white person to see Uluru, at least from a distance, was the explorer Ernest Giles in October 1872.
Title to the lands was handed back to the traditional owners, the Anangu, on the 26th of October 1985, with the condition that they lease the park back to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service for 99 years, that it would be jointly managed, and with the condition that Uluru remains open to climbers. However we have it on good authority that the climb will be closed within 10 years.
While we were there we did the base walk which was over 10 km long. We also went on a short tour with a ranger which was really interesting and we learnt alot about the aboriginal people and their lifestyle and customs around the rock.
We went to the outrageously priced "Sounds of Silence Dinner" and thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone visiting that area. It was great. http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/sounds-of-silence/ Check it out, it was fabulous.
Will add more tomorrow about Coober Pedy.
Till then
Love ya
Sue and Bret
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