Ayers Rock

Ayers Rock Gallery

Ayers Rock Facts and Figures

Ayers Rock (Uluru) is a large monolith in Central Australia, within the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park about 400 km southwest of Alice Springs, and is more than 318 metres (986 ft) high and 8 km (5 miles) around. The rock extends 2.5 km (1.5 miles) into the ground. The Aboriginal community of Mutitjulu is located near the western end of Ayers Rock. Ayers Rock is approximately 20km from Yulara, a tourist town with a population of 3000 just outside of Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park.

Ayers Rock is noted for appearing to change colour as the light strikes it in different ways at different times of the day and year. Ayers Rock at sunset is a particularly remarkable sight. Made of sandstone, Ayers Rock is infused with minerals such as feldspar that reflect the red light of sunrise and sunset and make the rock appear to glow. Ayers Rock gets its rust color from oxidation.

Ayers Rock is sacred to local indigenous people and has many varied springs, waterholes, rock caves and other features that figure prominently in dreamtime stories for the Ayers Rock area. Uluru is the name used by the local Pitjantjatjara people. European explorers named Ayers Rock after Henry Ayers, a 19th century South Australian Premier. Uluru has been the official name since the 1980's, although many people still use the name Ayers Rock.

Ayers Rock History

In 1980, baby Azaria Chamberlain disappeared while she and her parents were camping near Ayers Rock. Her mother Lindy Chamberlain reported that Azaria had been taken by a dingo, sparking the most publicised trial in Australian history.

The Australian Government returned ownership of Ayers Rock to the local Aboriginal people, the Anangu or Pitjantjatjara people, on 26 October 1985. Ayers Rock was then leased back to the Government for 99 years as a National Park.

Climbing Ayers Rock

The local indigenous community request that visitors respect the sacred status of Ayers Rock by not climbing the rock. Nevertheless, they do not prevent people climbing Ayers Rock, an activity that remains popular with many visitors. A rope handhold makes the climb easier, but it is still quite a long and steep climb and many climbers give up before reaching the summit. There are several deaths a year as a direct result of climbing Ayers Rock, mainly from heart failure.