Tourists from all over the world come and stay here nearly each evening of the year, admiring, in holy respect,  this stone - on advantageous place, approx. 3 miles distant from this gigantic formation. Sunset changes its colour and the same makes the rock.

Crowds of people follow this unusual picture with amazement. Gigantic orange rock between plain of desert and purple sky changes slowly its colour into red shade, and it seems as if in sunset it was glowing. Ayer´s rock is placed in Australia North Territory and can be proud of status „most famous place of interest for the whole country“. Nevertheless, at present is more known under the name of Uluru (place nomenclature in language of Aborigines, original population in Australia). Ayer´s Rock is a big monolith, raising 350 metres approx. above neighbouring  Mulga Plains, totally it is 867 m of sea level. The rock is 3,5 kilometres long and its periphery exceeds 9 kilometres. And it is to be seen only partially, as at least two-thirds are sunk below surface of desert. So, Ayer´s Rock is the biggest monolith of the world. For a comparison, it could serve Devil´s Tower in United States. This is a similar rock, rising from neighbouring countryside up to the height of 265 metres of sea level. It has a form of table mountain of an area of 60 acres approx. Ayer´s Rock received its name after former Australian Prime Minister. How to reach Ayer´s Rock? It is quite easy, from the town of Alice Springs. The rock is a part of Uluru park - Kata Tjuta National Park, administrated by Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, in cooperation with Tribe Council of Aborigins. This park, which is a holy place for original inhabitants, was declared in 1958. Later, in 1987, United Nations declared it as a part of World Nature and Cultural Heritage, as it is one of places, where the cultural and natural treasures are situated on the same level.  

Beside high sandstone walls of Ayer´s Rock, wild planted horse-tails seem to be quite small. Orange colour of the wall was caused by oxidation of iron admixture in sandstone. Anyway, it is to be assumed that the processes, thanks to them the Ayer´s Rock was created, started 500 million of years ago, when sediments started to be accumulated on bottom of primeval age.  Nevertheless, 300 million of years ago, the water stepped back, sediment minerals became crooked and sandstone layers tumbled down. 40 million of years ago, this process was finished by wind and sand. They modelled, together with united forces a part of sandstone below earth surface into today´s form. The Europeans discovered Uluru in 1872, when Ernest Giles investigated this area. In middle of 20th century, the Ayer´s Rock became very popular tourist target for many Australians. They tried to overcome it in shortest possible time period.  Nevertheless, there prevailed greater sense cultural values in past years, and Uluru, holy and important place fpr aborigins from Anangu tribe, enjoys more respect. Homeborn inhabitants of Australia live in this part of the country at least 22000 years, and Uluru presents for them great cultural value. It is a traditional land-mark on way of their predecessors in area of eternal dreams. So, they do not wish, from comprehensible reasons, the climbing of visitors upstairs. In spite of this, every year, thousands of tourists undertake difficult two-hours climbing up to the top of the rock. However, within years, even several tourist lost thir lives while overcoming steep walls of rock. The Aborigins would be very pleased, if people, instead of climbing  the rock, they would prefer walking along the way, leading round their base and visit the caves, artistic works, engraved into rocks and other ancient important places of Aborigins.

This park is an excellent example of ekosystem of Australian arid area. North Territory, where the park is situated, is, however, less populated and most wild part of Australia. Nearly one quarter of inhabitants are formed by Aborigines. They got back, (on base of document regarding the rights of Australians for their soil of 1976), 45% of land of thir predecessors. In a distance of 53 kms, in western direction from Uluru, there are to be found, inside the park, 36 roundish rocks, Olgas or Kata Tjuta (named by Aborigines). Olgas is formed by greater confluence as it is made by its relatives on east. Provided you find yourselves near to Uluru, it is worth to visit also these rocks of Olgas. Except geological and cultural places of interest, this park can be proud of many various forms of life, for 25 sorts of mammals, 70 sorts of reptils, 150 sorts of birds or 400 sorts of plants. Ayer´s Rock, one of most known places in Australia, is a wonderful miracle of nature.

Text: Denisa Arvajová

Photo: Google Earth