To see this natural wonder, up to half a million tourists annually go to the center of the Australian continent, who are not embarrassed by the heat and hordes of annoying insects.
The chameleon mountain changes its color several times a day - depending on how the sun illuminates it. Uluru (Ayrs Rock) was formed about 680 million years ago. As a matter of fact, we can say that it is one giant stone, the length of which is 3.6 kilometers, the width is 3 kilometers, and the height is 348 meters. From above, the mountain resembles an elephant that lies on its side.
Disputes over the nature of this rock continue to this day. Some consider it a monolith, others argue that underground Uluru is connected to Mount Kata-Tjuta (Mount Olga), which is 25 kilometers from it.
At the foot of Uluru, people settled 10 thousand years ago. However, the rest of the world learned about the amazing grief relatively recently. The first of the Europeans who saw her (1872) was Ernest Giles, who was at that time near Lake Amadius. However, the ascent to Uluru took place only a year later. It was made by William Goss, who gave the mountain its second name - Ayrs Rock.
Red mountain with a halo of mystery
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Aboriginal people consider Uluru a door that connects the human world with the spirit world. For centuries, shamans performed their rituals here. And to this day for local residents this mountain is a cult place. True, for some tribes Uluru is a helper, from whom they ask for various benefits for themselves, while others believe that she is a repository of evil spirits. There is also such a belief that in reality the rock is hollow inside and in its heart there is a certain source of sacred energy and inexhaustible strength …
Uluru really seems to be a mystical place, because it not only changes its already strange color, but also inexplicably affects the human psyche. For example, Australian traveler and writer Robin Davidson claimed in her book that she had never felt such overwhelming power before as that comes from Uluru. By the way, the natives are sure: if a person takes even a small pebble of this mountain, he will be cursed. And many of the tourists confirm this. People admit that as soon as they acquired such a "souvenir", their lives were overshadowed by setbacks and misfortunes. Therefore, parcels with stones constantly come to post offices in Australia: senders from all over the world return the devilish energy "to their homeland."
Chameleon mountain attracts tourists
Uluru opened to tourists only in the middle of the last century. It should be said that local residents do not interfere with their pilgrimage, because this is a good source of income. However, the Aborigines believe that tourists should not climb the mountain. Such ascents have never brought happiness to anyone, but there are more than enough tragedies. And all because these ascents offend the spirit of the ruler of the mountain and he punishes daring climbers. There is no official ban on this, but most tourists respect the beliefs of the local residents, and therefore enjoy the view of Uluri from the ground (which is also very impressive).
There are also places at the foot of the mountain where you cannot take pictures, and this is also explained by the beliefs of the aborigines. There are special signs in these places. They say that some couple in love, despite the ban, took a picture in such a place, and the next day the young people quarreled. The offended girl left the hotel room - and disappeared without a trace, they could not find her …
The closest city where tourists can stay is Yulara. It is located eighteen kilometers from Uluru. To get the right to visit the chameleon mountain, you just need to buy a ticket. Some 25 Australian dollars - and you can admire the miracle mountain for 72 hours …