Belair-Nationalpark

The Belair National Park (English Belair National Park ) is located in South Australia of Australia, just about 13 km from the center of Adelaide. He is 835 ha in size and was placed as the first National Park of South Australia in January 1891 protection. He is the second oldest national park in Australia and the tenth oldest in the world.

General

The Belair National Park is located in Mitcham and Adelaide Hills and is one of a chain of national parks, which extend along the Adelaide Hills Face Zone. The special feature of the area is that it is the only region in South Australia, both relatively high rainfall ( 750-1000 mm annually) and has to have a hilly topography. The summers are hot and dry, winters are cold and wet.

History

Aboriginal people from the tribe of Kaurna whose settlement area extended from Crystal Brook in the north to Cape Jervis in the south and the Mount Lofty Ranges in the country, originally lived in what is now the National Park. In 1837 the first Europeans crossed the area, from 1840, was settled by them.

Flora

In the western part of the park forest communities (Eucalyptus microcarpa ), White rubber eucalyptus (Eucalyptus leucoxylon ) and red dominate in species gray box (Eucalyptus camaldulensis ) and an understory of many grass species. The Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha ) and the kangaroo thorn (Acacia paradoxa ) were supported in their propagation through the repeated burning of vegetation. Overall, in this area, nature has suffered more by earlier forms of use. In the eastern area of ​​the park open woodlands occur which from Messmate Stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua ), white gum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus leucoxylon ), Pink Gum (Eucalyptus fasciculosa ) or rod -shaped (Eucalyptus viminalis ) are marked.

Fauna

The National Park provides a livelihood for 15 native mammal species, such as the short -beaked echidna, curly tail Beutler, brushtail possum, Yellow-footed bag mouse and little short bandicoot. Red and Grey Kangaroo and Koala are also present.

• Mammal species in the Belair National Park

Brushtail possum

Small short- bandicoot

Koala

In the National Park about 130 species of birds have been recorded, of which but many appear only on the passage. Among the regularly occurring species include, for example, White -faced Heron, Australian Hobby, Papua Moorhen, Moschuslori and singing parakeet. In addition, six amphibians and 19 reptile species were detected.

• Bird species in the Belair National Park

Papua Moorhen

Moschuslori

Sing parakeet

Tourism

The park visitor center is available, toilets and picnic areas are also available. Several trails with hiking times of 15 minutes to 3 hours are set up.

The park is visited by approximately 250,000 visitors annually.