How was Uluru Formed?

 

How was Uluru, Australia Formed?

 

Uluru is a single monolith red massive sandstone or Rock located in the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory of Central Australia. Uluru is also called “Ayers Rock”, which is very close to Alice Spring and just 355 Km away from Uluru. 

According to history, Uluru is a single massive rock formed around 550 million years ago through the continuous process of erosion and depletion of the earth. As per research they believed that this red sandstone was made up by the red rock over a period of time, along with feldspar and quartz contents.

 

You will never believe that, today what you are seeing Uluru once was a shallow sea. Consistent filling of mud, sediments, sand and plants wastes are converting sea into massive Redstone today. Pressure of Sediments are the core reason to change its physical appearances. 

 

Around 500 million years ago, tectonic forces caused the land to uplift, bringing the sandstone layers above the surface. As the uplift occurred, the layers were tilted, resulting in the nearly vertical angle at which Uluru stands today.

 

Erosion plays a crucial role in changes of physical and outer shape of Uluru rock, including consistent wind, environmental fluctuations, rain and other environmental factors that are adversely affected over a period of time. Not only Uluru, even Mutitjulu Waterhole is also affected too. It majorly affects rocks' surface and crevices. 

 

Most interesting element in this massive rock is its colour, which attracts millions of tourists every year. As per study, sandstone contains iron minerals within, which expose when the movement of air starts. That’s why its colour is always in red throughout the day time, during sunrise and sunset its colour slightly change as bright orange. 

 

Still today Anangu people (Indigenous tribal people of Australia) believe that this red rock is a more sacred place to them. Number paintings and murals witnessing land and rock belongs to them from 5,000 years. Along with that Uluru has strong Anangu cultural and spiritual importance, which correlates to their daily life. Someone still believes they are the real owners of that land.

 Suggested Reads; Interesting Facts about Uluru, Australia. 

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