Expedition National Park

Expedition National Park
Coordinates: 25 ° 7 ′ 44 ″  S , 148 ° 51 ′ 56 ″  E
Location:	Queensland , Australia
Specialty:	Gorges, sandstone cliffs
Next city:	Injune
Surface:	1099 km²
Founding:	1991

The Expedition National Park is 1,080 square kilometers, was established in 1991 and is located in Queensland , Australia . The name of the park, which is shaped by wilderness, is based on the Expedition Range . The park landscape is dominated by canyons and sandstone cliffs that are up to 100 meters high, as well as views of the Carnarvon Range .

location

It is located approximately 664 kilometers northwest of Brisbane .

reachability

The national park is divided into three sections that can only be reached by four-wheel drive vehicles . The area of Robinson Gorge , a canyon, is accessible via Taroom or Bauhinia Downs and Lonesome and Beilba are accessible via Injune on dirt roads. Natural gas is being drilled in the Beilba area.

Flora and fauna

The Expedition National Park is located in a bioregion, the Brigalow Belt , in which the Australian endemic Acacia harpophylla and eucalyptus species grow, as well as remnants of rainforests and pristine grasslands. Numerous bird species live in the park, such as the king parakeet , pale headed rosella , honey parrots , letter dove and mammals such as the cute-faced wallaby and the mountain kangaroos . The platypus and five species of turtles live in the Dawson River, and there are several species of geckos that are active at night.

geology

The landscape of the Expedition National Park is the result of geological change.

Between 240 and 235 million years ago, clay-bound rocks and siltstones as well as fine-grained sediments were formed that were transported by rivers into the Bowen Basin . Later, the rivers transported quartz sands from the north and northwest and deposited them in a 240 meter thick layer in the sedimentary basin .

200 million years ago the rock layers were folded and tipped into the Surat basin . The main rivers deposited masses of quartz sand up to a height of 100 meters. By diagenesis of sand became a white Sandstone Precipice . After millions of years through erosion and erosion , these sandstones now appear as tower-like white cliffs and on the canyon walls.

history

The area was the traditional land of the Iman Aboriginal people , who had lived there for millennia. They left stone engravings and prints on the sandstones .

In 1844 the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt came to today's park area on his expedition from Darling Downs to Port Essington near Darwin in the Northern Territory . He gave his discoveries names of expedition members and supporters, including Robinson Creek. Settlers came to the area soon after him, causing conflict with the Aborigines as they were ousted from their land. These clashes did not end until around 1920 when they were deported to distant reservations. As early as 1852, the Glenhaughton sheep station was built in the park area, in which 52 shepherds were responsible for 1,400 sheep each. In the 1890s, sheep was replaced by cattle.

After the First World War , blocks were built in the park area for the returning soldiers. In 1953 the Robinson Gorge was declared the first section of this nature reserve.

Tourist information

Camping is allowed in the national park, but a permit must be obtained in advance, which must be visibly attached to the campsites. There are no buildings or drinking water supplies on the designated campsites. You have to make your own provision for sufficient drinking water and garbage cannot be disposed of in the park. The use of generators is not allowed and only gas may be used to prepare food.

Web links

• Official site of the park (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Australian Government - CAPAD 2010 ( MS Excel ; 170 kB), DSEWPaC , accessed on January 7, 2013 (English)
2. ↑ Australian Government - CAPAD 1997 ( MS Excel ; 93 kB), DSEWPaC , accessed on January 7, 2013 (English)
3. ↑ ^{a b} derm.qld.gov.au  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. : About Expedition , accessed July 3, 2012  
4. ↑ ^{a b c} derm.qld.gov.au  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. : Natur, Culture and History , accessed July 3, 2012  
5. ↑ nprsr.qld.gov.au : Camping Information , November 1, 2011, accessed July 3, 2012