Parks and reserves of Australia. Nature reserves of Australia What national parks are in Australia
Australian parks: national parks, reserves, protected areas of Australia, natural parks.
Any UNESCO
the most unesco
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the largest coral reef systems in the entire world. It consists of 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, stretching over 2,600 kilometers over an area of approximately 344,400 square meters. km.
the most unesco
Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park
Oddly enough, parrots have nothing to do with the name of this park. It got its name from the local Kakadu tribe. This Australian natural wonder is unique due to the rocks and ledges surrounding it on all sides, isolating the park from the outside world.
Visiting Australia's national parks evokes a lot of emotions! The riot of colors and imagination of Mother Nature is breathtaking even for people with a highly developed imagination and seasoned tourists. The air temperature in Australia rarely rises above +30 °C (in summer, when we have winter) and drops below +17 °C (in winter, when we have summer), so you can comfortably admire the natural wonders here at any time of the year.
Divers from all over the world come here to fulfill their cherished dream, considering visiting the Great Reef akin to joining a club for the elite.
The Great Barrier Reef stands completely apart from the list of places to visit - nowhere else in the world is there a coral kingdom created by nature comparable in beauty and scale. Divers from all over the world come here to fulfill their cherished dream, considering visiting the Great Reef akin to joining a club for the elite. If you have never dived “to the bottom of the sea” before, then this is the very place on Earth where you absolutely must do so. But be on your guard: there is a great danger of strong impressions and dependence on this literally unearthly (and underwater) beauty. So much so that diving can become your passion for life!
Many lands in Australia are owned by Aboriginal people, who lease them to the National Park Service and thus generate income from tourism.
The natural beauty and inhabitants of national parks (there are more than 40 of them in Australia) are carefully protected and maintained by the state. Therefore, we have the opportunity to get acquainted with rare species of plants and animals and observe them in their natural habitat. Be sure to visit the Wildlife Park, Cockatoo Park and the Blue Mountains with their caves, see termite nests, waterfalls and hundreds of bird species in Litchfield Park. In the koala park, it’s impossible not to be touched by these funny little animals! Where else besides Australia can you ride on giant turtles? In short, come to Australia and you are guaranteed an extraordinary experience!
Australia is full of a variety of national parks and reserves, all very different from each other! I propose to briefly go through the most amazing of them.
Let's start with the greener parks in Australia and gradually move on to the most deserted ones. So, first on our list is Kakadu National Park - a real green oasis, surrounded on all sides by cliffs.
Kakadu Park's most famous scenery is the spectacular view of Jim Jim Falls.
Similar in vegetation and scenery, but more varied, is the Blue Mountains National Park, part of the Great Dividing Range.
The park is home to many rare animals and thousands of relict plants.
No less beautiful landscapes can be observed in the Kanangra-Boyd National Park adjacent to the Blue Mountains.
The park is known primarily for its amazing rocks.
Another beautiful part of the Blue Mountains Territory is Woollemy National Park.
It was here that a species of pine was found that has lived on the planet for more than 30 million years and a cave with more than 200 ancient rock paintings!
This is one of the few Australian parks with its own helipad and tower for extinguishing fires, which are common in this area.
The most interesting place in the park is the Natural Bridge, a real miracle among green trees.
The small Walpole-Nornalup Park is essentially different.
The highlight of the park is that the main and most interesting route literally runs through the treetops...
Another beautiful, but not so popular place for active recreation is Nattai National Park.
The main feature of this park is the picturesque sandstone cliffs.
Much less greenery can be found in Purnululu National Park, which consists mostly of amazing cone-shaped mountains.
The most famous part of the park is the Bungle Bungle Mountain Range.
There are also some very unusual rock formations here.
Another amazing National Park is located in the heart of Australia - this
The breathtaking gorges along the Fitzroy River, Wolf Creek Meteor Crater, Gibb River Road and Bunge National Parks are very popular. In the middle of the sandy desert, 260 km. North of Perth, in the Nambang National Park, is one of the main attractions of the country - entire fields of petrified remains of an ancient forest - "Pinnacles".
In the Kakadu Park (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List) in the territory of unique natural landscapes, a wonderful collection of wild animals, flora and representatives of the bird life of the mainland has been collected, in the Northern Territory Wildlife Park, along with other representatives of the Australian fauna, You can get acquainted with the legendary Australian giant fish "barramandi". In the vicinity of Darwin there are beautiful Litchfield and Katherine Gorge parks.
Alice Springs is the starting point of many routes to Ayers Rock - the Uluru rock massif is a gigantic rock “table” rising 348 m above the perfectly flat surface of the surrounding desert and formed in the Archean era (this is one of the most ancient areas of crust on the planet ). For the Australian Aborigines, this chameleon-changing mountain has remained a sacred place for thousands of years. According to the Chukurpa (Law of Creation), the entire area of Uluru was created by ancestral beings, the descendants of which are the Anangu tribe, who leased Mount Uluru to the Australian government for use as a national park. The duty of the "anangu" is to monitor the land of their ancestors, to prevent it from being physically and spiritually polluted, so the aborigines are against tourists climbing to the top of Uluru and many visitors now respect their sincere beliefs and refuse trekking. Instead, trails have been laid around the equally picturesque base of the cliff, which pass through caves and sacred “primordial” areas. 32 km. to the west of Uluru lies the Kata Tjuta massif (or Mount Olgas) - a no less impressive and in fact much higher monolith than Uluru, as well as the Valley of the Winds - an equally wonderful place for a “pilgrimage”. Nearby lies the tiny town of Yulara - the center of the world famous Ayers-Rock Resort, surrounded by the Uluru-Kata Tzhuta National Park. In addition to several modern hotels, of interest here is the Yulara Information Center with an excellent exhibition on the geology, history and nature of the region, as well as a unique exhibition of magnificent photographs. The Aboriginal Cultural Center also houses a very interesting exhibition about Aboriginal culture and art.
Australia is a country rich in nature reserves. The country has a huge number of National Parks with beautiful flora and fauna, most of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Many countries in the world can envy and learn from the Australian state in caring for nature. It is thanks to Australia's national policy to protect nature that we can see such beautiful forests, parks and landscapes.
It is considered one of Australia's protected areas. Great Victoria Desert. Its area reaches 424 thousand sq. km. The desert got its name in honor of the British Queen Victoria.
The climate of the Victoria Desert is very arid, so agriculture does not flourish here. It never snows here, but sometimes it rains. Summer air temperature is 32-40 degrees Celsius, in winter - 18 - 23 degrees.
People still live in the Victoria Desert - the aborigines of the Mirning and Kogarah tribes. Despite the difficult living conditions, they do not want to move.
The Victoria Desert Nature Reserve is protected by the two states in which it is located - Western and South Australia. The administration carefully monitors the preservation of the natural complex, where most of it is sand, and in the south of the desert special attention is paid to salt lakes and rocky ridges.
The vegetation of the Victoria Desert is poor and unique at the same time. Low-growing acacias, eucalyptus trees, kangaroo grass, and feather grass grow here.
Among the animals, the most common animal that is found here is the kangaroo rat, which looks like a jerboa and has long hind legs. Also in the desert live echidnas, dingoes, bandicoot rabbits, emus and budgies. The desert is simply teeming with poisonous snakes and lizards.
Blue Mountains Nature Reserve- a stunning pristine place of nature, which is located next to a large and important city. There is so much unique flora and fauna in this huge reserve that even a series of volumes would not be enough to describe everything.
The area of the national park is more than 1 million hectares. Eucalyptus trees and ferns grow in the reserve, all against the backdrop of lakes and swamps. Rocky mountains with strange caves are separated by river flows and beautiful waterfalls.
The Blue Mountains are included in the UNESCO list.
The reserve got its name from the blue haze rising above the mountains. Scientists believe that these are evaporations of oils that eucalyptus trees emit.
Millions of tourists visit the Blue Mountains every year. Not a single tour to Australia is complete without this natural monument.
The park's calling cards are the bizarre Three Sisters rock, the beautiful Jenolan Cave and the Katoomba Railway, which has the steepest climb.
Great Barrier Reef is Australia's most famous marine national park. It stretches from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Torres Strait.
It is impossible to find words that could describe all the charm and splendor of this place.
The park protects 3 thousand reefs, 1 thousand coral islands and unique animals that live in these waters. Nowhere else can you find a fish - a butterfly, a fish - a parrot, a reef shark.
Throughout the year, amazing events occur in the Great Barrier Reef, such as coral reproduction, sea turtles laying eggs and others. This crazy beauty will become a real paradise for divers.
Royal Botanic Gardens, located among the skyscrapers of Sydney's business center, it cannot but please the eye. How nice it is to escape from the bustle of the big city and enjoy the cool silence of an emerald oasis.
The area of the Royal Garden covers 30 hectares. Initially, there was a farm on this site, but it was not successful, and 200 years ago real collections of Australian plants began to be grown here.
Now, the Royal Botanic Garden has more than 7 thousand species of trees and plants.
South West National Park is considered Tasmania's largest park. It is located in the southwest of the island. The area of the park is 618 thousand hectares.
The landscape of the park is poorly landscaped, this is due to the climate.
Tasmania's South West National Park is renowned for its beautiful and rugged wilderness.
It is here, in the park, that the most fishing spot in Tasmania is located.
On Phillip Island, located 120 km from Melbourne, there is a unique nature park. It is divided into several thematic zones, each of which is attractive in its own way.
A favorite tourist spectacle here is the Penguin Parade. It can be observed early in the morning, when penguins leave their burrows and rush to the water, and in the evening, when the birds return.
The koala sanctuary on the island is considered no less strange and beautiful. These animals live in the wild, occupying numerous eucalyptus trees.
Phillip Island is one of the few places where koalas can live outside of enclosures and cages.
The island of Tasmania is a true example of Australian wildlife. Many years ago, when the huge continent of Gondwana split apart, it left behind Rainforests of Tasmania.
They stretch along the coast of the island. The landscapes are mesmerizing with their wild beauty and 30 years ago this site was recognized as a natural heritage.
The Rainforests are home to rare animals such as the Tasmanian devil, red wallaby and marsupial wolf.
Tasmania's rainforests are nicknamed the "Lungs of the Planet" because the untouched green forest stretches for thousands of kilometers. Soft moss growing underfoot, dense vegetation and intertwined vines, lakes with the purest surface of water - a real paradise for travelers.
Cradle Mountain State Park - Lake St. Clair- a specially protected area, a World Wildlife Heritage Site.
This place attracts tourists who love long, multi-day walks through the mountains and forests.
Two of the park's landmarks appear in its name - the jagged mountain peak of Cradle Mountain and the high-altitude Lake St. Clair lake. Tasmania's highest mountain is also located in this park - Ossa.
The vegetation of this natural monument is unique. It combines local endemics, coniferous and deciduous trees. Stunning landscapes can be seen in autumn, when the beech forests turn all shades of gold.
The animal world is also diverse. Animals that are considered symbols of Australia all live here - kangaroos, echidnas, platypus, wombats, Tasmanian devils. All of them can be seen if you take part in a hike through the park, which lasts six days.
William Ricketts Nature Reserve, covering an area of 4 acres, is located not far from Mount Dandenong in Australia. It was created by local potter and sculptor William Ricketts in order to open the eyes of Australians to the beauty of wild nature.
This open-air exhibition now features 92 sculptures made from wood and ceramics.
Hidden in the thick of the tropical forest is an exhibition of Aboriginal statues, and it looks so natural, as if they were not statues, but natural creatures of nature. And from trees shrouded in moss, statues of people appear, which is a symbol of the relationship between the aborigines and nature.
Kroajingolong National Park is located in Victoria, 500 km south of Sydney. The park includes tropical forests, water sources and wild beaches. UNESCO has protected this site since 1977.
This park is home to 90 species of orchids and many other plant species.
The fauna is also rich and diverse; here you can find such rare animals. like the fur seal and the ground parrot.
Crocodile Park located next to Darwin. It was opened in 1994. Its creator is crocodile researcher Graham Webb.
This park can be called a reptile museum. In no other place in the world can you see anything like this - a huge variety of crocodiles, whose living conditions are as close as possible to natural ones.
Crocodiles living in the park range in size from 30 cm to 5 meters. There are both dangerous and harmless individuals.
Apart from reptiles, the park is also home to other animals that attract hundreds of tourists every day.
The crocodile park is protected by the International Wildlife Authority. And although animal research is carried out here, it is humane. The park employees themselves promote caring behavior towards animals and nature.
Hello readers! In this article I would like to touch upon the topic of Australian national parks. Personally, I am very interested in this continent and its nature, so let’s talk in more detail about its careful protection...
Australia, about 180 million years ago, was part of Gondwana, or rather the southern tip of Pangea, an ancient continent. Australia, over time, broke away from Gondwana and set off on a long journey to the east.
As a result, Australia became home to all kinds of marsupials.
Human factor.
The ancestors of modern Aborigines inhabited Australia for about 40 thousand years. back. The ancient “immigrants” adapted to new conditions and lived in complete harmony with the environment, worshiping the natural elements and the earth.
But in 1788, Europeans arrived on the continent and energetically began to “conquer” the newly discovered world. They believed that the continent's nature was so rich that it would not be lost if they began to cut down the forests to the roots to clear the land for pastures.
Already in the early 1820s, alarming voices were heard about the rapid depletion of the country. And in 1866, the first protected area was taken under protection.
Under the onslaught of man, the world of living nature retreated. And today, vast areas of dry steppes that hold back the advance of the desert are gradually turning into the same due to erosion and overgrazing.
In 1879, the Royal National Park was opened on the east coast south of Sydney - the second in the world after American Yellowstone.
The area of this mountainous area is 72.8 km 2, which is distinguished by a fabulous wealth of flora - from heather-covered sandstone hills to tropical forests in deep canyons.
Extinct species.
Over the past two centuries, many animals and plants were irretrievably lost, even though people realized it quite early.
In 1990, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), which was created in 1948 to publish and collect data on endangered species and reserves, about 456,540 km 2 (about 5.9%) of Australia.
295,750 km 2 of them are nature reserves where logging and mining are prohibited.
This territory includes both scientific reserves closed to the public and national parks with wide access for tourists, provided they respect nature. Another 160,790 km 2 of land are under partial protection.
Reserved country.
There were 782 nature reserves in Australia in 1990 (and in 1900 there were only 4). Eight of these reserves are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Kakadu National Park and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Reserve.
The longest chain of islands and coral reefs in the world (almost 2000 km) is the Great Barrier Reef, which stretches along the east coast of Queensland.
Many species of plants and animals live there. The territory of the national park, whose total area is about 350 thousand km 2, includes almost all reefs.
Today, the exploitation of natural reef resources is strictly limited. In order to protect this entire fabulously beautiful but vulnerable ecosystem, a categorical ban on offshore drilling and oil production was introduced.
Kakadu National Park has not only natural but also cultural significance. Its area is 6670 km 2. This park, which is located 220 km south of Darwin, is the most famous of the Northern Territory's parks.
Kakadu Park features a wide range of natural areas - from salt lakes and mangrove swamps on the coast to bushland, eucalyptus forests and heathland with islands of tropical jungle.
About 50 species of mammals, 75 species of reptiles, 270 species of birds and a great variety of fish live here.
About 5,000 drawings on the walls and rocks of caves and 120 prehistoric sites were discovered in the park. In these parts, at the end of the 19th century, Europeans also managed to manage, bringing water buffalos from Asia and exterminating crocodiles.
Fortunately, this thoughtless destruction was stopped in time.
In 1979, Kakadu National Park was formed, and in 1985-1987. – has been significantly expanded.
Approximately half of the park belongs to the local Gaduju tribe, who believe that this territory is sacred.
In order to receive income from tourism, the Aborigines leased their lands to the directorate of the Australian National Parks and Nature Reserves Service, but in matters of park management, the final say still belongs to the Aborigines.
There are mineral deposits in Kakadu Park. These include uranium, but their development is opposed by many environmentalists and there is only one active uranium mine.
Stones, caves, flowers.
Australia is a large and relatively sparsely populated country. Australia's population is concentrated in cities.
Local authorities take care of the preservation of the rich natural heritage, including areas with picturesque terrain, places inhabited by rare species of animals and plants, as well as objects of historical and cultural significance.
Today, many of them have been converted into national parks, but in addition to them, Australia also has a large number of nature reserves, local parks and reserves.
Uluru National Park (which means "big rock" in the Aboriginal language) is home to Ayers Rock, a famous sandstone monolith that is another World Heritage Site.
In 1985, the Australian Government transferred the ownership of this park to the Aboriginal people - its original owners, who, following the example of the indigenous people of Kakadu National Park, leased it to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service for 99 years.
Tanami Desert is one of the largest natural reserves, with an area of 35 thousand km 2, located northwest of Alice Springs.
And the pride of this untouched corner of the Australian desert is its rare collection of desert birds, marsupials and other animals that are found nowhere else in the world.
Queensland has more national parks than any other Australian state; there are more than a hundred protected coastal islands alone.
On the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range is Carnavaron National Park, which is famous for its caves with Aboriginal rock art and picturesque mountain landscapes.
The Wet Tropics of Queensland Nature Reserve is located in the north-east of the state and is another natural World Heritage Site.
Diversity of ecosystems.
The most diverse ecosystems are represented in the reserves and national parks of New South Wales - from the mountain landscape in the spurs of the Great Dividing Range to the rainforests of New England Park.
Kosciuszko Peak - the highest peak in Australia, located in the Kosciuszko National Park, whose area is 5439 km 2. The rare dwarf cuscus also lives here.
Grampian National Park is located in the south-west of Victoria. This park is known for its rich wildlife, including the famous platypus, and wild flowers.
And such inhabitants as koalas, wombats and emus have created fame for Wilson Promontory National Park, which is located on the south-east coast, in a mountainous area.
South and West.
Unique natural areas are carefully protected in the national parks of southern Australia. Some of the most famous of these include Lake Eyre National Park, Flinders Ranges Mountain Reserve and Simpson Desert Nature Reserve.
The coastal Coorong National Park, south of Adelaide, has a completely different look and is famous for its salty lagoon among the sand dunes. It is one of 28 wetland reserves of global importance established under the Ramsar Convention of 1971.
Western Australia's first national park. John Forrest, near Perth, is famous for its eucalyptus forests and is very good for hiking.
Also, a number of areas of islands, sea coast and desert, where there is almost no human habitation, have been taken under protection.
Shark Bay Nature Reserve, located 680 km north of Perth, is recognized as a natural World Heritage Site.
Tasmania.
The heritage of the vast island of Tasmania is very small. Thanks to this, about 30% of the island's area is allocated to national parks. The world-class Wilderness Nature Reserve is one of them.
It is located on the western coast of the island, and its area is 7700 km 2. All types of local landscapes are widely represented in this reserve - wild rivers, mountains, tropical and eucalyptus forests.
The conclusion is this: we people often treat nature poorly and through this careless attitude it suffers greatly, and we along with it. A striking example of this is the colonization of Australia by Europeans (as I wrote at the beginning of this article). Let's try not to do this ourselves and teach our children to take care of nature.