Hanging rock
| Hanging rock | ||
|---|---|---|
 Typical rock formation at Hanging Rock |
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| height | 718 m | |
| location | Victoria , Australia | |
| Notch height | 105 m | |
| Coordinates | 37 ° 19 '40 " S , 144 ° 35' 42" O | |
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| rock | Trachyte | |
| Age of the rock | 6.25 million years | |
Hanging Rock is the popular name for Mount Diogenes in Victoria , Australia . The rock formation is located about 70 km north of Melbourne and is only a few kilometers from Mount Macedon . The formation is one of the foothills of the Great Dividing Range .
Hanging Rock was used as the setting for the novel Picnic on Valentine's Day by Joan Lindsay and the film of the same name by Peter Weir .
Geology and formation
Hanging Rock was formed 6.25 million years ago by intraplate volcanism. Magma emerged from the rock crevices and was deposited on the surface of the earth. It emerged u. a. volcanic domes that were brought into their current shape by erosion . Hanging rock consists of an extremely high sodium trachyte , which was first found in this chemical composition in Scandinavia and is unique to Australia. The rock formation lies on an extensive area of volcanic rocks. The nearby Mount Macedon was created in the same way.
history
Hanging Rock is in the territory of the Wurundjeri tribe, but has no known spiritual meaning for this Aboriginal tribe. However, before further measures can be taken to develop the reserve, an expert opinion must be obtained from archaeologists. By finding a skeleton near Keilor, they were able to prove that the first humans lived in the area 36,000 years ago.
In 1836 Major Thomas Mitchell named the rock formation Mount Diogenes during his expedition through Victoria . At the time, it was popular to use Greek names. Hanging Rock is originally the name for a prominent rock at the entrance to a hiking trail: a round boulder that hangs in a crevice and leaves a passage.
In the early 19th century, the rock formation was a refuge for prospectors and bush rangers such as the legendary Mad Dan Morgan , a thief and murderer known for his brutality. Some prominent places such as Morgan's Lookout and Morgan's Blood Waterfall are named after him.
The rock was privately owned until 1866. The government bought the area and merged it with the adjoining water reserve to form the Hanging Rock Reserve. By then, Hanging Rock had already become a popular destination for hiking and picnicking. A hotel and a racecourse were built. The first horse race took place in 1880 and the Hanging Rock Race Club was founded in 1885. To date, there are regular races on New Year's Day and Australia Day .
Picnic on Valentine's Day
The novel and the film Picnic on Valentine's Day describe the disappearance without a trace of three girls and their teacher during a school trip on Valentine's Day in 1900. Only one of the girls reappears, but cannot give any clues about the other missing persons. The others are gone forever. Neither corpses nor a sign of life are found.
The novel and the film raised Hanging Rock's awareness and increased attendance.
Hanging Rock Reservation
The reserve can be reached from Melbourne by train via Woodend and offers many opportunities for sporting activities such as tennis and fishing, as well as remarkable flora and fauna.
The reserve maintains a natural corridor between Hanging Rock, Mount Macedon and the Cobaw Range. Native animals such as wallabies can roam around this area protected by tall grass. In addition, the reserve is an important refuge for migratory birds. The rest of the plain outside the reserve is mainly used for viticulture .
The forest at the foot of Hanging Rock is characterized by various types of eucalyptus trees, in which koalas can often be seen. The vegetation on the rock formation itself is limited to a few bushes and stunted trees. However, the brown snake and the red-bellied black otter , two dangerous poisonous Australian snakes, hide between the rocks .
The park is open daily and guided night walks are offered in summer.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.peterbrown-palaeoanthropology.net/Keilor.html
- ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from July 19, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , P. 10
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from July 19, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from July 19, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Pp. 6-9
