Kathleen Springs
The Kathleen Springs are springs in Watarrka National Park in the Australian Northern Territory . They are located around 20 kilometers south of Kings Canyon in the Kathleen Gorge (Kathleen Gorge) . The springs can be reached from a parking lot on the street via a 1.3 kilometer path.
The springs had a spiritual meaning for the Aborigines from the Luritja people , since according to their mythology Dreamtime the rainbow snake lives in the water holes. Since there is always water in the gorge, the never-ending waterhole attracted animals that the Aborigines could hunt with spears. The sources were the cause of disputes between whites and Aborigines, as white settlers used them to water cattle and thus interfered with the way of life of the Aborigines. The Aborigines, in turn, robbed and consumed numerous cattle from the white cattle breeders. The police arrested the cattle thieves and detained them.
The Kathleen Gorge not only supplied vital water, but was also used to catch cattle and wild horses in pens. The last herds of cattle and horses were rounded up in 1983 when the national park was established. Bush figs grew near the spring and were used as fodder by wild camels. The Parks and Wildlife Commission responsible for the park removed all wild camels from the area and planted the plants in the areas where they had taken the camels.
Camping is prohibited in the gorge and at the waterhole, as is bathing in Kathleen Springs.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Official Website of the Northern Territory (English)
Coordinates: 24 ° 20 ′ 43 ″ S , 131 ° 40 ′ 55 ″ E