They believe that the earth began as flat and featureless. And over time, their ancestors, in the form of giants and/or animals, created the terrain and vegetation. One such feature is Uluru, known to westerners as Ayers Rock. In their belief system, these features are proof that the stories are true, and their ancestors really were here.
The geological history tells a different story. 900 million years ago, sea levels were much higher. This area was at the southern edge of the shallow Amadeus Basin. Sediment collected in one spot over millions of years, and then the water receded. There were no plants or animals here, so it turned into a solid silica plate. The water returned 500 million years ago, this time bringing sea creatures and algae. Their presence created layers of mud and sand. The silica layer compressed even harder underneath. The water receded once again. Then the earth's crust buckled, leaving a finger of hard rock in the middle of lots of mud and sand. The softer rock eroded and the hard rock remained, sticking up out of the earth. And that's Uluru.
I don't know about any of that, but that's a massive bloody rock, mate! And it photographs well.
We stopped by the sunset viewing area long before sunset just to take a few photos from a good vantage point. We'll be back later...
This area is called the Mala Carpark. It also happens to be the location of "The Climb" and has the only bathrooms for miles around. The Anangu strongly suggest you respect their wishes and not climb the rock. There are many reasons. The first is safety. There's a chain to hang on (it's the thin gray line in the photo), but the physical demands are still immense. It's steep. It's windy. It's slippery, even more so when it is wet. In the summer, it's incredibly hot and dry. Heart attacks are not uncommon. The second reason is environmental. There's no toilet up there. No trash cans either. People wee and poo and drop their rubbish, and the rain washes it down the side of the rock. It contaminates the very fragile ecosystem that exists down the side and at the base. Plus, the poles for the chains are driven into the rock and are causing it to break apart. The third reason is cultural. Uluru has great spiritual significance to the Anangu. The climbers disrespect their beliefs by climbing it. It's sacred and timeless. It would be analogous to making a crayon etching from the Ten Commandments.When we arrived, the climb was open and people where making use of it. It closed several times during our three day visit due to wind.
According to a guide we talked to later, the climb will be closed permanently within 10 years for all the reasons listed above. And I suspect not long afterward, Ayers Rock Resort will close, too. Tourism will dwindle, and the park will see far fewer visitors.
And that's just what the Anangu are hoping for.
Ma and I opted not to climb.
The rock is not smooth. In fact, pieces flake off all the time revealing the true color underneath (gray). The reddish color comes from oxidation of the iron in the sandstone.
There are also lots of caves and pits and dimples all over it. Some are fist-sized and others could hold an automobile.
