If you’re yearning to pack up and take a trip down under, don’t pass up a visit to the very heart of Australia. Deep in the “Red Centre” of this country is one of the most revered and sacred places on the continent. The trip to Uluru is an inspiring journey, with rock formations dating back 500 million years!
Location
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is near to the geographic center of Australia. A tremendous sandstone monolith, it rises 1,148 feet (350 meters) above the surrounding earth. This massive plateaued structure sitting on an otherwise flat expanse is definitely hard to miss. It is the star attraction in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Here, visitors can make the climb to the top and back within a few hours, or explore the base via the 6-mile footpath.
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History
The official name of Uluru originated with the Aboriginal people who populated the area as long as 10,000 years ago. Years later, around 1873, this iconic landmark was dubbed Ayers Rock. Explorer William Gosse took note of the rock and named it after then Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. Archeological evidence indicates that it was once underwater. Evidence also indicates that much of its total height extends deep underground. While it is not the largest monolith in the world, it is certainly one of the most well known.
The Aboriginal people hold Uluru as a sacred place. It is believed that the monolith was created during the Dreamtime, the creation of the world. The Dreamtime was the beginning of knowledge, and the time of the Ancestor Beings. Spiritual ceremonies are sometimes held at Uluru, and visitors are discouraged from photographing or disturbing these rites. Not all Aboriginals are fond of their ancestral lands being a tourist draw.
Facts
Today, the legal owners of the land Uluru sits upon are the native Aboriginals. Although, the native Aboriginals have granted a 99 year lease to the Australian government. Take a look at this breathtaking time lapse video that captures the rugged beauty that is the essence of this ancient and spiritual land.
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Featured Image from Photoholgic/Unsplash
