25:21.628 S  130:00’868 E

AYERS ROCK, ULURU

 18^th-19^th July 2007

It’s when we were driving along the road, approaching this well-known site from Alice Springs that we suddenly realised why so many people are impressed with this place.  It just sits there in front of you, and stands out like a monolithic artefact from prehistory

It’s very difficult not to be aware of its presence, as most of the shrubby plain around is quite flat.

The sand in this picture in the foreground shows you that the camera is not telling a lie when you see how red that big rock is!

It’s a lot smoother than the Olgas in Kata Tjuta.  It has no major joints and fractures.  Rain run-off formed the steep valleys with pot-holes and plunge pools. 

It looks as if  a wave must have eroded the sandstone in this part of the rock

Raised ridges like this one outline the sedimentary layers of Uluru which tipped up 90 degrees

 It’s quite surprising how lush and green the recent rains made certain areas around the rock

We decided not to take up the challenge of climbing Uluru, as it is owned by the Aborigenes, who treat the whole area as a sacred place, and feel urge tourists not to climb it.

We decided to walk around it instead.  This is the side close to where the airfield used to be, when tourists were first encouraged to come here in the 1960’s.

And of course we have to have the sunset picture – look how well wrapped up we are, it’s 8C !