Karijini National Park
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| Karijini National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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| Nearest town/city: | Tom Price |
| Coordinates: | 22°15′2″S 117°58′32″E / 22.25056°S 117.97556°E |
| Area: | 6274 km² |
| Established: | 1969 |
| Managing authorities: | Department of Environment and Conservation |
| Official site: | Karijini National Park |
Karijini National Park is a National Park centred in the Hamersley Ranges of the Pilbara region in northwestern Western Australia (Australia). It is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, approximately 1055 km from the State's capital city, Perth. It was formerly known as Hamersley National Park.
At 6274 km², it is the second largest national park in Western Australia (Rudall River National Park is larger).
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[edit] History
A party led by explorer F.T. Gregory explored the area in 1861. He named the Hamersley Range, on which the park is centred, after his friend Edward Hamersley.
[edit] Climate
The park is located in the Pilbara region, and is mostly tropical semi-arid climate. In summer, thunderstorms and cyclones are common, bringing 250-350 mm of rain annually.[1] Temperatures on summer days frequently exceed 40 degrees Celsius, while winter nights can bring frost.
[edit] Features
The park is most notable for its gorges, waterfalls and water holes.[2]
The park's wildlife includes red kangaroos, euros, wallaroos, echidnas, geckos, goannas, bats, legless lizards and a large variety of birds and snakes, including pythons.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ M. Bright, 1001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die, Quintet Publishing, London 2005
- ^ "Karijini National Park". westernaustralia.com. http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Destinations/Australias+North+West/The+Pilbara/Karijini+National+Park.htm. Retrieved on 2006-12-19.
- ^ "Karijini National Park - Beyond The 26th". ABC. http://www.abc.net.au/northwestwa/26th/karijini.htm. Retrieved on 2006-12-19.
[edit] External links
- (English) A photo tour of the park highlights
[edit] Details from CALM
Entry fee: AUD $ 10.00 Introduction:
Karijini National Park protects many different wildlife habitats, landscapes, plants and animals of the Pilbara. Wildflowers vary with the seasons. In the cooler months the land is covered with yellow-flowering cassias and wattles, northern bluebells and purple mulla-mullas. After rain many plants bloom profusely.
Huge termite mounds are a feature of the landscape and the rock piles of the rare pebble mound mouse may be found in spinifex country.
In the north of Karijini National Park, small creeks hidden in the rolling hillsides—dry for most of the year—suddenly plunge into sheer-sided chasms up to 100 metres deep. These are the Park's famous gorges. They are spectacular but can be extremely dangerous. Further downstream, the gorges widen and their sides change from sheer cliffs to steep slopes of loose rock.
Rocks exposed at the gorges originated as fine grained sediment which accumulated on an ancient sea floor 2,500 million years ago. At this time, the atmosphere contained much less oxygen and the only forms of life were simple bacteria and algae. Many of these sediments laid down in the oceans were rich in iron and silica.
Over hundreds of millions of years, the iron-rich deposits were transformed by the pressure of further sediments laid down over them, and they gradually turned into tough well-bedded rock. The gorges were eroded when a sharp drop in sea level caused the rivers to downcut rapidly—a process enhanced by the onset of a more arid climate, which depleted the protective vegetation cover on the valley sides.
In Dales Gorge, a stream, pools, waterfalls, and ferns contrast with the red, terraced cliffs weathered by centuries of exposure. The occasional snappy gum can be seen perched on rocky ledges. But every gorge is different, and each one is worth a visit. At Oxer Lookout, the junction of Weano, Red, Hancock and Joffre Gorges, tiers of banded rock tower over a pool at the bottom of the gorge. To explore these gorges you must be fit and prepared to submerge in near-freezing water, follow narrow paths and cling to rock ledges.
The Park is the traditional home of the Banyjima, Kurrama and Innawonga Aboriginal people. The Banyjima name for the Hamersley Range is Karijini. Evidence of their early occupation dates back more than 20,000 years. During that period, Aboriginal land management practices such as 'fire stick farming', resulting in a diversity of vegetation types and stages of succession, have helped determine the nature of the plants and animals found in the park today.
Karijini Visitor Centre, walking, sightseeing, photography, camping, swimming, nature observation.
If you decide to tackle any of the walks within the park, please take great care—the gorges can be extremely hazardous. Many of them are only recommended for the physically fit and you must notify a ranger before starting any of the longer ones.
- Circular Pool
It is a loose, steep descent, then an easy ramble to the hidden gardens of Circular Pool. (800m return.) This is an arduous walk, so you must allow at least 2 hours return.
- Dales Gorge
A 4-kilometre return trail runs along the bottom of the gorge. Allow 3 hours for the return walk. Gorge Rim Walk and Circular Pool Lookout A 1.2-kilometre return trail runs along the rim of Dales Gorge.
- Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool
Walk down through the changing vegetation of the iron-rich gorge walls to the park's only permanent waterfall. (800 metres, 2-hour return walk.)
- Hancock Gorge
Journey to the 'centre of the Earth' down this steep, narrow gorge. Feel the highly polished rock on the way down to Kermit's Pool. (1.5 kilometres, 3-hour return walk.)
- Joffre Gorge
A short track runs from the carpark to the lookout overlooking the falls, which are usually dry, and the plunge pool at their base. (100 metres, 10 minutes return.) Follow the marked route into the bottom of the gorge to the first pool downstream of the waterfall. (3 kilometres, 3-hour return walk.)
- Kalamina Gorge
There is a 30-minute return walk into the gorge's lush, shaded pool. Alternatively, walk within the gorge along a stream and small ponds (3 hours return).
- Mt Bruce (Bunurrunha)
Spectacular views from the top of the second tallest peak in WA, called Bunurrunha by the Aboriginal people. There are three walks of varying lengths and difficulty: Marandoo View is 500 metres and takes 30 minutes return. Honey Hakea Track is 4.6 kilometres - allow 3 hours return. The walk to Mt Bruce Summit is 9 kilometres - allow 5 hours for the return trip. This walk is recommended only for fit and experienced walkers.
- Red Gorge
Access into this gorge is via Knox, Joffre or Hancock Gorges. Rangers must be notified before entering it.
- Weano Gorge
A walktrail takes you down the steep descent into Weano Gorge and through the bottom of the gorge to Handrail Pool (300m return). Please tell the ranger if you intend to walk past this point.
More Information
Access: From the west. Leave the North West Coastal Highway near Nanutarra and head towards Tom Price. Enter the park via Marandoo Road. # From the east. Leave the Great Northern Highway 35 kilometres south of Munjina Roadhouse and travel west along Karijini Drive to the Banjima Drive intersection. Turn right and travel 8 kilometres to the Dales Gorge turnoff or continue west along Banjima Drive to Kalamina, Joffre, Weano and Hancock Gorges and Oxers Lookout. # From Roebourne. Head south to Millstream Chichester National Park, then continue east along the Roebourne-Munjina Road, finally turning south-west along the Nanutarra-Wittenoom Road through Rio Tinto Gorge past the Hamersley Gorge turnoff and south-east onto the Hammersley-Mount Bruce Road. Safety information: PLEASE NOTE: Yampire Gorge Road is closed. There is no access. Feature article(s): Karijini Visitor Centre Facilities: Camping (separate fees apply) Karijini Visitor Centre, toilets, water, information shelter, picnic tables, gas barbecues. Karijini Eco Retreat, located in the Savannah Campground 35km from the Visitor Centre and 10km south of Weano, offers more up-market accommodation and is owned by the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation. Camping is no longer permitted at Weano and Joffre. Self registration (entrance fee applies) at two entrances, near Ranger Station and Mount Bruce Road.
[edit] Further reading
- Padgett, Allan (1991) Karijini National Park - description of some of the more remote gorges. Landscope, Vol. 7, no. 1 (Spring 1991), pp.16-21
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