Ayers Rock 
| Ayers Rock |
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Ayers Rock, also known under the name of Uluru, is a large rock in central Australia in the Northern Territory. It's the largest monolith in the world. |
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It is located more exactly in the national park of Uluru-Kata Tjuta, near to the small town of Yulara, of 400 km in the South-West of Alice Springs. It measures 348 meters height and has a perimeter of 9,4 km.
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Uluru is known for its capacity to change colour in step with the day and the hour. It is composed of sandstone inlaid of minerals like the feldspar and oxidized iron particles which give it its famous rust colour in the dawn and in the twilight. |
It is a sacred rock for the Aboriginals of Australia which contains sources, ponds, caves and paintings.
* Ayers Rock is the name given to the rock by the Europeans
colonists in homage to Henry Ayers, Prime Minister of southerner Australia in
XIXth century.
* Uluru is the Aboriginals name, become official name in the years 1980.
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The rock being sacred for the Aboriginals, its climb is dissuaded at those who want to respect their beliefs. |
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The climb of Ayers Rock follows a course of 1,6 km. The rise is long (more than an hour of walk) and isn't easy because the slope varies between 30 and 60 degrees at some places. The chain which allows an easier climb is now and again indispensable.
At the top of the rock, extremely windy, is a plate which allows identifying the surrounding mountains up to 157 km of distance.
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