Windjana Gorge

Windjana Gorge is a gorge in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is located at 17°24′32″S 124°57′28″E / 17.40889°S 124.95778°E / -17.40889; 124.95778Coordinates: 17°24′32″S 124°57′28″E / 17.40889°S 124.95778°E / -17.40889; 124.95778,[1] within the Windjana Gorge National Park.

The gorge was formed by the Lennard River having eroded away a 3.5 kilometres (2 mi) section of the Napier Range. The range was formed over 300 million years ago and is composed of Devonian limestone. The gorge is over 100m wide and the walls are between 30 metres (98 ft) and 10 metres (33 ft) in height.

The area is a popular tourist destination and can be easily hiked through in the dry season. The gorge has permanent waterholes and supports a habitat of monsoonal vegetation. Freshwater crocodiles are known to frequent the area.[2]

The locale is prominent in the recent history of the Bunuba people of the Kimberly region. In the 1890s, the Bunuba man Jandamarra, a former stockman, led an armed insurrection. In late 1894, a posse of 30 or so heavily armed police and settlers attacked Jandamarra and his followers in Windjana Gorge. Jandamarra was wounded but escaped.

Travellers are able to see fossils of shells and other marine creatures on some of the rock walls.

References

  1. ↑ "Windjana Gorge". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.
  2. ↑ "Kimberley Australia - Windjana Gorge National Park". 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-25.


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