Album Central Australia from tiabunna

The limit of Kings Canyon

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 10:27:49 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

This is the limit of the tourist trail in Kings Canyon. Beyond this point is restricted to the traditional owners, as there are several places with sacred significance.

Just a little light flare over the top of the canyon rim in this image.

Heading up the canyon.

Heading up Kings Canyon

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 10:27:28 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

Although Central Australia is generally arid, there are little areas of what could be called 'oasis'. Kings Canyon is one such area. It is part of a National Park and there are several possible walks - one being up Kings Creek (see PiP).

In Kings Canyon

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 09:28:35 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

From the viewing platform

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:56:43 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

This panoramic view of Uluru and the distant Kata Tjuta was taken from a viewing platform sited to give a good sunrise view of them both - I'd have to admit somewhat after sunrise here! Best viewed large on black.

Another week almost gone, so it's time to wish everyone a very Happy Fence Friday and I hope you all have a great weekend to follow.

Visiting Uluru

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 11:36:51 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

We walked part of the way around Uluru (PiP 1 shows the tracks). It does become more impressive with proximity and, although the Aboriginal owners prevent access to some areas with traditional links, it is possible to visit Aboriginal cave paintings from earlier times.

Sunset at Kata Tjuta

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Sat, 16 Oct 2021 09:19:23 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

Sunsets in central Australia tend to be about clear skies and strong colour. Viewing the light of them on Kata Tjuta and Uluru is so popular that special parking areas have been provided for optimum viewing.

Over the landscape

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 11:24:24 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

Continuing on my helicopter trip (see previous image of Uluru), we headed westward towards Kata Tjuta (see PiPs). I must admit I find this rocky complex more interesting than Uluru itself, and the main image was my favourite from the entire outing, as it includes both. If you enlarge this, beyond Uluru in the far distance, you will also see flat-topped Mt Connor. Should you find the geology of this area as fascinating as I do, you can read more about it here.

The Rock

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 10:43:47 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

Whether you prefer to call it Uluru (the Pitjatjantjara name for 40,000 or so years) or Ayers Rock (the colonial name for just under 150 years), it's an impressive lump of sandstone. It rises almost 350 metres above sea level and, like an iceberg, it seems most of its bulk is below the surface of the surrounding terrain.

When I took these images (see also PiPs) it was still popular to climb to the top on the ridge to the right of this image (also PiP 3) though the Aboriginal people disapproved - the climb has since been closed. I decided to skip the climb and instead to do my viewing from a helicopter, putting it in context. Best viewed large.

Henbury Meteorite crater

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 06:46:04 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

Some 4,700 years ago, what is known as the "Henbury Meteor" weighing several tonnes, crashed here in the Central Australian desert, leaving 12 craters of various sizes as it broke up. The largest crater, shown in this stitched panorama, is 180m wide and 15m deep and now is part of the Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve. One to view large.

In the gorge

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 10:29:32 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

Following on from my previous image, this is a small waterhole alongside the tourist walking trail in Walpa Gorge, part of Kata Tjuta in Central Australia. Best viewed large.

Out at Kata Tjuta

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 12:38:06 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

One from the archives. Kata Tjuta is the Aboriginal and now accepted name for a complex which I and most other Australians formerly knew as "The Olgas", after the colonial name for a peak in the area. When travel is not confined by Covid, this is a popular tourist area. One to view large.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Fence Friday and a safe and enjoyable weekend.

More of the Breakaways

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 13:47:21 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

The Breakaways

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Sun, 23 Apr 2017 03:25:51 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

Out in central Australia, between Coober Pedy and Oodnadatta, are some very eroded hills, known as "The Breakaways". They are relics of what the general land surface was some many millions of years ago before erosion took most of it away. These remain because there is some harder rock at the top. Spectacular but very bare country - no place to be caught without water in the summer months.

Definitely one to view large, possibly while contemplating the latest (bleak) news on the status of the IMA bid for ipernity www.ipernity.com/group/2260604/discuss/186918.

Outrage

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 12:42:32 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

Around Australia are many sites sacred to the Aboriginal people, usually meaning the details cannot be divulged to outsiders, including the "white fellers" whose ancestors arrived only in recent centuries. This site of ancient rock carvings (petroglyphs) goes by the name of Ewaninga and is in the Northern Territory. While the age and significance are secret to the Elder men of the Arrernte People, it has been estimated at between 30-40,000 years. The site is accessible for visits and is part of a Conservation Reserve run by the NT Parks and Wildlife Service.

I (and most Australians) have been horrified and outraged in recent days to read that a major mining company in Western Australia, in the course of ripping out iron ore, has destroyed two caves containing sacred sites , with archaeological evidence showing occupation going back 46,000 years. They should have been World Heritage protected. The mining company's response could be summarised as "Oops, nobody told us it was important".

Not only do Black Lives Matter, so does Black Heritage!

Roadside bench

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 09:54:35 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

Taken out on the plains of western Queensland, somewhere between Betoota and Birdsville. This area is now under vast flooding - about 1 million sq km, link to map from "The Guardian" : four times the size of the United Kingdom, larger than France and Germany combined, and larger than Texas. This is the largest flood in this area on record and follows an extreme weather event with many places having more than their annual total rainfall in four days. Because the area is so large and flat, the floods are likely to take months to flow away inland to Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre..

Update: Thanks to my ipernity friend PAM_J, here's another link with a photo of some of the flooding.

Well, at least it was dry when this was taken, so Happy Bench Monday, everyone.

Outback - way back

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Tue, 14 May 2024 10:31:04 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

My Mazda 1500 near Lake Eyre (the salt pans in the distance) on the Oodnadatta Track, way back in 1971. It seems that a large 4WD is now the usual vehicle in this area, but this was just a normal car (hub caps removed) and with a 1 year old child in the back seat. Copied from a slide.

I'm just back from my more recent trip and yet to work through my images. Coming soon.

Supplies for stockmen

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 10:23:29 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

Copied (also PiP) from slides taken June 1971 on the Oodnadatta Track - see the notes with my previous image for more detail. Shortly after seeing the stockmen going out mustering, we were surprised to meet this camel-drawn wagon following with their supplies and camping gear. Camels had been used here extensively in the past in desert areas, but even in 1971 this was rare.

Noting that the driver is on a (very basic) bench, I'll wish everyone a Happy Bench Monday and a good week to follow.

Stockmen mustering

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 10:34:50 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

From an old slide taken in 1971. Heading up the Oodnadatta Track we met this group of stockmen going out (with their spare horses) to commence mustering (possibly several weeks) on Anna Creek Station. Anna Creek (23,677 km2 (9,142 sq mi) is the world's largest cattle station, 7 times larger than the largest US ranch and larger than countries such as Slovenia and Israel. The number of cattle varies with the conditions (drought etc) but typically is between 10-20,000.
As this work is now mechanised with aircraft and motorcycles, this has become a historic image!
Translations to US English: stockmen = cowboys, station = ranch, mustering = rounding up.