Purnululu National Park in the Australian state of Western Australia was founded in 1987. The main attraction of the park is the rock formations of the Bangle-Bungle ridge, which, as a result of erosion over 20 million years, have formed cones resembling hives …
The National Park is spread over an area of 239,723 hectares in the north-eastern part of Western Australia on the Kimberley Plateau. (Photo by James D. Morgan):
These formations - hives - have a banded structure: bright orange sandstone alternates with dark stripes reaching a width of several meters and a thickness of several millimeters. All of them are formed from blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, which are closest to the oldest microorganisms on Earth. (Photo by Tomacrosse):
The bright orange stripes of sandstone, in contrast to the dark stripes, have low permeability during the rainy season and protect formations from accelerated erosion. They also contain iron and manganese oxides, which give these bands a brighter orange hue. (Photo by Philip Schubert):
For a very long time, the territory of the modern national park was little studied by Europeans, although for the indigenous inhabitants of Australia, Australian aborigines, it was of great economic and cultural importance (about 200 rock paintings and burials were found in the park). (Photo by Philip Schubert):
Promotional video:
The hive-shaped mountain formations of the Bangle Bungle Ridge were not discovered by the white population of Australia until 1982, when a plane with a group of filmmakers flew over them. (Photo by Philip Schubert):
In 2003 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. (Photo by Barry Lewis / In Pictures Ltd.):
In translation from one of the languages of the Australian aborigines "Purnululu" means "sandstone". (Photo by Philip Schubert):
(Photo by James D. Morgan):
Sandstone formations in the park and trees. (Photo by Stefan Mokrzecki):
A very unusual place. (Photo by James D. Morgan):
(Photo by Stefan Mokrzecki):
(Photo by Philip Schubert):
653 plant species are registered in the park, 13 of which are relics. (Photo by Jack Kinny):
(Photo by James D. Morgan):
(Photo by James D. Morgan):