History of the formation of Uluru

Uluru and Kata Tjuta are prominent features of the Australian Outback landscape, significant to the Indigenous population for their cultural and spiritual importance. The Indigenous believe Uluru isn’t a rock but a living, breathing being. When you visit Uluru and Kata Tjuta, please be mindful of sacred areas and avoid disturbing or photographing these spots. If unsure which places are holy, sign up for a guided tour. Proximity to these remarkable sites provides a memorable experience.

Learn about the history of Uluru

Human settlements in the area have been discovered by archeologists, dating back over 20,000 years. Ancient Aboriginal rock art sites, like Cleland Hills and MacDonnell Ranges, show evidence of past inhabitants. During the construction of the Australian Overland Telegraph line in the 1870s, Earnest Giles and William Gosse were some of the first explorers in the region. In 1872, Giles discovered Olga’s rock formation, named after Queen Olga of Wurttemberg. He later returned to Alice Springs because of the marshes of Lake Amadeus. The following year, William Gosse led an expedition from Alice Springs with a camel train to climb the rock now known as Ayers Rock. He was the first European to do so, and the rock was then named after his superior, Sir Henry Ayers.Today, this historic journey is often highlighted in many Uluru tours. The Australian Government asserted land ownership in the early 1900s and permitted visitor access by the 1930s. Uluru started drawing tourists in 1936, and by the 1950s, it had become a sought-after destination for tourists and miners. Over time, worries arose about the impact of increased tourism on the land. Consequently, in 1973, the Government agreed to relocate the recently built accommodation sites to a new area in Yulara.

Geography

The Aborigine people of Central Australia believe this area was formed during the Dreamtime, while the scientific explanation for its creation is equally intriguing.

Uluru is a massive monolith and Australia’s most famous landform. Geologists classify it as an inselberg, with most of its mass underground, extending nearly 6km beneath the earth’s surface.

Uluru, a sandstone formation, was shaped over millions of years by geological and erosional processes. Alluvial fans formed from erosion of nearby mountains, later compressed by rising seawaters 500 million years ago. Approximately 400 million years ago, the sea disappeared, and powerful forces folded the land, tilting rock layers and exposing them to the elements. Uluru has been shaped and eroded over time by intense weathering, resulting in its distinct red color from the oxidization of surface minerals.

The formation of Kata-Tjuta, also known as The Olgas, shares similarities with Uluru, as both are inselbergs. Kata-Tjuta is made up of conglomerate sedimentary deposits that have been eroded into boulders and domed peaks through natural processes over time.