Saturday, 24 October 2015

And Nearby the Olgas (Kata Tjuta)

After our early morning circumnavigation of the Rock (Uluru) we headed to its companion, the Olgas (Kata Tjuta). This mountain chain comprising no less than 36 domes is actually higher than Uluru reaching 1066 m (3497 feet) - a little higher than our home in Armidale. I've always wondered how they became known as the Olgas and now I know. They were named after Grand Duchess Olga of Russia! Why? Well the chain events is strange. The explorer Giles who found them was persuaded by Ferdinand Von Mueller who accompanied him to name them after the wife of the king of Wurttemberg who had just ennobled him! And the king's wife was the Grand Duchess Olga, daughter of Tsar Nicholas 1. Nowadays Kata Tjuta is becoming the most used name, meaning 'many heads' in the Pitjantjatjara language, Try pronouncing that name!

Anyway, they are, like Uluru, highly impressive - and in some ways more beautiful. They are equally worth a visit. After arriving there, we took the Walpa gorge walk, which was truly inspiring. We start with two views of the Olgas from a distance of several km - first the southern and then the northern end.



And here I am with my fly netting head-gear designed to keep the ever abundant flies from my face.


And from the Olgas one can see Uluru in the distance. You can what I mean when I said in an earlier post that we get the impression that Uluru is a solid lump of rock whereas in practice it's fairly fragmented.


Close to the Olgas the local vegetation, sparse as it is, is identified and we found that many little shrubs were flowering in Spring, making the countryside extra attractive.



You can see here the Olgas' lumpiness.


Here we are at the start of the Walpa Gorge walk with Bec and Max in the lead.



A dry stream bed, but I guess it flows a few times in the year, given the c. 12  inches of rain received.


Deeper into the gorge, the vegetation becomes taller and thicker, as the rocks channel water to the bottom of the gorge and the rock faces cast shadows to reduce evaporation.


Max taking a well-earned rest.



Looking south westwards out of the gorge towards the flat horizon. 





Returning to the shelter to find Dot.



Good-bye Olgas.


AS

No comments: