Karijini-Nationalpark

In the Hamersley Range, in the center of the Pilbara, is the extensive Karijini National Park (English Karijini National Park, formerly ' Hamersley National Park ). It offers a spectacular, rugged scenery in an ancient geological formation. With 627 445 hectares, it is the second largest national park in Western Australia. The dry, dusty plains of the plateau is traversed by tortuous river corridors that suddenly up to 100 m deep gorges and plunge pools fill in which ensures the clear, fresh water for an amazing flora and fauna. Accessible he is from Port Hedland via the Great Northern Highway, 326 km to the south or from the North West Coastal Highway on the west coast about 345 km Tom Price to the east. The access roads are paved, which is in the national park roads on the other hand are automobile grade gravel roads. The southern half of the park is largely undeveloped. Tourism is limited to the breathtaking canyons in the northern part. Mount Meharry is 1,245 m the highest mountain in the national park.

The Health Department of Western Australia warns of asbestos in the Yampire Gorge and in the Wittenoom Gorge (not located in the national park).

Aborigines in the Karijini

The Banyjima, Yinhawangka and Kurrama Aboriginal people call Karijini Karijini. The park's name honors the history and importance of the area for them, and their involvement in park management.

Evidence for the presence of their ancestors date back more than 20,000 years ago. During this time she also designed the nature and determined the current biodiversity of plants and animals.

Remote Pool and Circular Pool are special places for the local Aboriginal people. To protect the heritage, culture and the area to be apart from ruhestörendem noise, climbing and jump down from the waterfall.

Climate

North of the Tropic of Capricorn located, the climate can best be described as that of a tropical semi-desert. Strongly fluctuating rainfall, especially summer rainfall of 250-350 mm are accompanied by thunderstorms and hurricanes, create spectacular rivers and waterfalls in the gorges. Summer temperatures often exceed 40 ° C. The winter days are warm and clear, but the nights are cool and sometimes chilly.

Geology

The striated formations encountered in the rock and in the canyons, created more than 2.5 billion years ago, when iron and silicate sediment was deposited on the ancient kingdom seabed and enriched. Over millions of years, these iron-rich deposits were compressed by the pressure of the overlying layers to solid rock. Horizontal pressure caused later curvatures in the rock, forming numerous vertical columns before it was to land and raised. Rivers cut quickly and deeply through the country and created steep-walled canyons. Combined with millions of years of erosion they designed this hilly, traversed by deep ravines landscape.

The canyons

In the north of the National Park is narrow river beds, tucked between mountain ranges and the most of the year wind dried to suddenly plunge deep, narrow canyons up to 100 m. Further downstream, the gorges wider and their switch sides by steep cliffs to steep slopes with loose rock. The outflows form the alluvial fans of the Fortescue Valley. The gorges offer a refreshing contrast to the dry steppe above. They offer a magnificent scenery with dramatic waterfalls, clear fresh pools and a unique play of colors of the rock walls, caused by the minerals iron, copper and asbestos.

• Dales Gorge with the Fortescue Falls, the water holes Remote Pool and Circular Pool
• The coherent system Gorge Hancock Gorge, Joffre Gorge, Weano Gorge, Knox Gorge, Red Gorge
• Hammersley Gorge
• Kalamina Gorge
• Yampire Gorge, respect Asbestos Contaminated

Flora and Fauna

The wild flowers in the national park vary depending on the season, but they grow in abundance after the rare rains. In the cooler months the land is covered with innumerable yellow flowering Senna ( cassia ), Acacia species, Mertensia paniculata and purple mulla - mullas. In between, the Red Kangaroo, Kangaroo Mountain, Rothschild rock wallaby, the Dingo, and various small animals, including species of bats live. Many species of native rodents and bags predators, such as the Pilbara Niguai, are nocturnal and shy. Also, reptiles and amphibians, such as frogs, geckos, lizards, Agamas, lizards, pythons and other snakes are located in the National Park. Many species of birds will stay in the vicinity of the basins and rivers. Australian mice, however, find in the rocky slopes shelter. Finally, the large termite mounds are hard to miss, which are scattered among the hills in the grasslands.

Pictures

Dales Gorge

Fortescue Falls

Hammersley Gorge

Kalamina Gorge

Weano Gorge

Weano Gorge

Fern's pool