Mount-Etna-Caves-Nationalpark

The Mount Etna Caves National Park (English: Mount Etna Caves National Park ) is a national park in the eastern part of the Australian state of Queensland. It is located 544 km north-west of Brisbane and 26 kilometers north of Rockhampton.

History

The Archer Brothers, settlers in the area around Rockhampton in the 1850s, named Mount Etna by the Etna in Sicily. 1914 to 1939, they won guano from the caves and from 1925 were also built from limestone. During the Second World War the Australian Army commandos trained here. In 1975 the national park was established to protect the caves.

Provincial nature

Mount Etna consists of limestone, with in addition to the rock steps and karst caves in its interior. The area was once flooded by a shallow sea in which coral reefs were formed. As the sea level fell, the mountain in its present form showed.

Fauna

The karst caves, more than 80% of a occurring in Australia Glattnasenart ( Miniopterus australis) as a place to sleep. This is also one of the few places in Australia where you can watch a colony of endangered Australian ghost bat.

Facilities and access

The tents in the park is not permitted. There are a number of hiking trails and guided tours through the caves.

The national park is accessible from the Bruce Highway (exit The Caves ). Access to the caves is limited in order to protect the animals. Some caves may not be entered ..