Gawler-Ranges-Nationalpark
The 1660 km ² large Gawler Ranges National Park in South Australia is located 510 km west of Adelaide. This park was opened on 15 January 2002 and is accessible via the located on the edge of the park places Wudinna, Kimba and Minnipa. By sharing a border with the 1320 -square-kilometer Pinkawillinie - Conservation Park, a 3,000 km ² of parkland created.
Geology
In the park are of volcanic mountains and hills of the southern Gawler Ranges, which originated about 1.5 billion years. Through volcanic activity created at different points occurrence of columns of basalt. This stone resembling an organ pipe formations are known as the "Organ Pipes". Other tourist attractions in the park are the angular rock formations of Peter's Pillars, which is still in the pioneering days coming Paney Homestad and Pondanna Outstation.Mehrere former river valleys durziehen the park, although there there are no year-round water-bearing river today. The Lake Gairdner north of the National Park is the fourth largest salt lake in Australia. The highest elevations are the nukey bluff with 457 meters, Mt Fairview with 452 meters and the Paney Hill with 449 m. Sand dunes are located in the extreme south.
Climate
The summer in the park are mild with average daily Maimaltemperaturen from 34 ° C to hot, winters cool, sometimes cold. The daily maximum temperatures in the winter average of 19 ° C. The climate is dry, with the irregular rainfall mostly falling in winter. The average annual precipitation is 295 mm. The best travel time winter and spring apply.
Plants and wildlife
The National Park is located between the mallee areas of the Eyre Peninsula in the south and the desert regions of the north. Thus it is home to a large variety of species. The park is home to a total of at least 225 native plant species, 126 bird species, 18 mammal species, and 33 species of reptiles and amphibians 3.
Notable bird species include the Gawler Ranges Thermometer chicken, Emu, wedge-tailed eagles and Inca Cockatoo. Among the mammals, Red Kangaroo, Grey Kangaroo, Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, Mountain kangaroos, the Southern haarnasenwombat, Bilchbeutler, the sand dunes Schmalfuß bag mouse Hüpfmäuse are emphasized.
History
Little is known about the prehistory of the region. The two tribes of the region were the Wirangu and Parnkalla. Since the park was for a long time, inhabited by Aborigines, the indigenous people of Australia, there are eight important cultural places that are registered as a protected site.
The researcher Edward John Eyre was the first European to the Gawler Ranges traveled in September 1839. He named the area after George Gawler, the second Governor of South Australia. Beginning in 1864, here livestock was operated, which was facilitated by a secure supply of drinking water from 1865
Infrastructure
Camping is possible near Mount Ive Station. To drive on the park's four-wheel drive vehicles are required, only the distance of Paney Homestead to Old Paney is suitable for road vehicles. Access roads to the park are at Minnipa, Wudinna and Kimba. It is recommended to drive on the Gawler Ranges of Minniap from. As accommodation available to visitors bush campsites available.