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AYRES ROCK/ULURU - AUSTRALIA
| Location: | Geographic coordinates: | Area: | Area - comparative: |
| Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. | 27 00 S, 133 00 E | total: 7,686,850 sq km | Slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states. |
| Population: | Languages: | Capital: | Currency: |
| 19,731,984 (July 2003 est.) | English, native languages | Canberra | Australian dollar (AUD) |
| Types of rocks used on the monument: | Arkosic Sandstone (Sedimentary rock) |
Ayers Rock is in the middle of Australia. It is vertical and represents one limb of a syncline. There are other giant conglomerates in nearby mountains but Ayer's Rock itself is an Arkosic Sandstone. The red color is due to oxidation of iron. The original color is gray - seen inside the caves of the rock.
Kata Tjuta National Park: 280 miles (450km) southwest of Alice Springs. Ayers Rock/ Uluru, the world's largest monolith and an Aboriginal sacred site is Australia's most famous natural landmark. Visitors may wish to make the tough 1.6km ascent to the top or take a walking tour around the rock with an aboriginal guide , learning about its fascinating with the Uluru people and its importance in dreamtime legend. Also in this enormous park are many Aboriginal sacred sites, spectacular scenery and famous rock formations. Visit the Olgas/ Kata Tjuta, a dramatic series of 36 dome-like rock formations which stand up to 1,701ft (546m) high and cover an area of 35km and like Uluru, produce an incredible light show at sunset, with crimsons turning to rusts, and pinks to mauves.
© Guillermo Rocha, P. G. / Brooklyn College Geology Department