Here are some facts about Ayers Rock.
- Ayers Rock, also known as Uluru, is a large sandstone rock formation located in the Northern Territory, close to the exact centre of Australia. The closest large town is Alice Springs, about 200 miles away.
- The huge sandstone rock is 1,142 feet high and can be seen from miles around. It measures almost 6 miles in circumference and is known for appearing to be different colours at different times of day.
- Ayers Rock is one of the largest monoliths on earth, and one of the oldest of all rocks. It is thought to be about 500 million years old.
- Although it appears red in colour most of the time, the rock is actually grey. The red colour and the colour changes are caused by large amounts of oxidized iron.
- Humans have lived in the area for thousands of years, although the rock was only discovered by Europeans in 1872. It was named after South Australia’s chief secretary, Henry Ayers.
- The rock has been sacred to Aborigines for centuries and the local name Uluru was officially recognized in 1993. The name Uluru has no meaning and was a local family name.
- There are lots of cave paintings and carvings in the area surrounding Ayers Rock. Many of these are thousands of years old.
- There is no vegetation of any kind on Ayers Rock. However, because of rainfall running off the rock, the surrounding area is lush and supports a variety of wildlife, including several species of bat.
- Summer temperatures at Ayers Rock can reach as high as 45 degrees C. It is often very windy on the summit and visitors are forbidden to climb during high winds.
- About 10 percent of all visitors actually climb to the summit of Ayers Rock. Many visitors stay at the nearby Yulara Resort, offering accommodation ranging from caravans to luxury lodges.
