Murray-Sunset-Nationalpark

The Murray - Sunset National Park, with an area of 6,330 square kilometers, is the second largest national park in Victoria, Australia and is located approximately 450 kilometers northwest of Melbourne. In the north of the park is bordered by the Murray River, from which it takes its name, in the west of the park ends at the border with South Australia.

The park was created in 1991 after up to this point about 65% of the original vegetation had been cut down. 1999 was extended when the park with the Pink Lakes National Park was connected.

Flora and Fauna

The vegetation of the Murray Sunset is mainly characterized by mallee vegetation. Mallees are eucalyptus species that are often held due to their low, much stocky stature for shrubs, but in fact are well-adapted trees to arid climate. Extensive lawns with Stipa spartea ( " Porcupine grass" ), a hard esparto grass, are also typical of the region. In spring, the park presents a variety of flowering plants, including the Murray Lily ( Crinium flaccidum ), with a flower diameter of up to 15 centimeters, one of the largest flower of Australia.

Bush fires in summer are common and necessary for the development of vegetation. In recent years, however, accumulate large bush fires in the park, some of which include hundreds of acres and the habitats of rare species of birds threaten the Murray Sunset is particularly well known due to drought. The Malleeborstenschwanz ( Stipiturus mallee, English:. Mallee Emuwren ) has one of its last refuges, as well as the Mallee Schwatzvogel ( Manorina melanotis, English:. Black-eared miner ), a bee-eater species, which was located here in 2000. A less rare, but characteristic and interesting bird of the park is the thermometer chicken ( Leipoa ocellata, English:. Malleefowl ). Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax ) and emus are among the most striking large birds of the park.

Reptiles are numerous in the park, different types of bearded dragons and dragons are frequently observed. The Murray Sunset National Park is one of the few areas in Victoria, where, among other kangaroo species, including red kangaroos ( Macropus rufus) occur numerous. The populations are so large that need to increase the decimation of the herds are noisy from farmers in the region.

As in many parts of Australia are introduced animal species, such as foxes or feral pets, a threat to the ecological system in the Murray Sunset National Park by Europeans. For this reason, the stocks are in the park since 2003 repeatedly culled introduced species, often free of charge by private hunters and marksmen. From 2003 to 2006 alone 500 wild goat was killed.

Pink Lakes

The Pink Lakes in the extreme south of the Murray Sunset are four lakes that are fed by saline groundwater. The lakes in the dry semi-arid climate of the park in the summer months due to evaporation and are then partially or completely by a salt layer. The lakes receive their name from the characteristic staining of this layer, which is formed when the lakes resident algae ( Dunaliella salina ) increasingly secrete beta - carotenes with increasing salinity. The clearest staining end of the summer occurs in cloudy weather or at dusk to light, the salt crust of the lakes appear in the bright sunlight otherwise more white and less colored.

The salt of the lakes has been used commercially since 1916 and initially transported by camel. Later, the transport over a railway line in the settlement Linga, but fell into disuse after the end of the degradation took place in 1975.

Lindsay Iceland

The area around Lindsay Iceland is distinguished by its proximity to the Murray River as a flood plain with loamy soils considerably from the central and southern parts of the park with dry sandy soils. Many rivers run through the area, many of which dry up during the summer months to billabongs.

The vegetation is made up of other Eucalyptus species with higher water requirements together, is higher and denser and offers parrot species breeding sites. Water birds such as pelicans and herons are numerous, the largest kangaroo populations found in these northern areas of the park.

Transport links

The border areas of the park have good transport links, and are easily accessible in dry weather for cars. In the south of the Mallee Highway runs parallel to the park boundary, to the Pink Lakes performs a partly sandy, but well-developed slopes. To the east of the Calder Highway touched the parking area, the northern part can be reached via the Sturt Highway, but the area around Lindsay Iceland is only accessible in very dry weather without all-terrain vehicle. When the rains return can be quickly impassable under certain circumstances. The central areas of the park are only accessible by 4WD on some deep sandy tracks. In particular, a crossing of the Murray Sunset Wilderness Area west of Underbool track should only be attempted with suitable vehicles and good equipment, since the remote area is not safe, even for experienced bush goers.

In many parts of the park no communication with mobile phones is possible.