Australia attracts visitors from all over the world with its virgin nature, which is practically not affected by the "hands" of civilization. This country is rich in protected areas protected at the state level. Australia's national parks preserve many natural monuments, rare animal species and amazing landscapes on their territories. Now let's talk about one of these places called Kakadu.
General information
Kakadu is a National Park located in the northern region of Australia. This area is dominated by a monsoonal, subequatorial climate. The park is located on a hilly, gently sloping plateau, which gradually turns into a highland. Its total area is 19804 km2.
The Kakadu National Park was founded on April 5, 1979 in order to preserve natural landscapes. This area is also valuable from an archaeological and ethnological point of view. Entrance to the park is paid.
Name and history of the park
Hearing the name "Cockatoo", many imagine that there are many crested parrots in these parts. But in reality the park wasnamed after the Australian tribe that lived in these places many years ago. These natives were called "cockatoo". By the way, the tribe lives in these places to this day. They were able to maintain their culture, which they adhere to today.
Park Features
If you look at the Kakadu National Park on the map, you will notice that it is like a pearl in a beautiful frame. Indeed, this wonderful place is surrounded on all sides by ledges, mountains and rocks 400-600 meters high. So, the park turned out to be fenced off from the outside world, and a variety of animals, insects, reptiles, birds and fish live inside.
Another feature of the park are two caves that attract history buffs. Inside, on the walls, there are rock paintings, which, according to scientists, date back to the 16th millennium BC. e.
Flora of the park
In northern Australia, Kakadu National Park has the most diverse flora. More than 1,700 plant species are listed here. It is also amazing that each section of the park has its own flora, which is not repeated in other parts of Kakadu.
Thus, monsoon forests with prickly kapoks and majestic banyan trees grow near wet gorges. The marshy lowlands are dominated by sedge, pandans, cinchona and mangrove trees. In "Stone Country" conditions are complicated by unusually dry, hot seasons, which are replaced by heavy rains. To suchrocky vegetation has adapted to the inhospitable weather. On the hills of the south side are endemic plants. So, only here in Kakadu grows koolpinensis eucalyptus.
Cockatoo fauna
Because Kakadu National Park has a variety of natural conditions and vegetation, there is a huge variety of animals. Among various living creatures, rare and endangered species, as well as endemics, live here. But since the weather here is too changeable and often extreme, most of the inhabitants of the park are active only at the time of day or year that suits them.
Kakadu National Park is home to 60 species of mammals. Since many of them prefer to live, they are quite rare for tourists. But, for example, 8 different types of kangaroos, as well as wallabies, often catch the eye here. There are also dingoes, brown bandicoots, marsupial rats, marsupial martens, black wallaras. And in local waters you can see dugongs.
Information for park guests
Kakadu is open to the public all year round. There is a fee to enter the territory. Here you can stay overnight in campsites. There is also a settlement Jaberu, where all the necessary benefits of civilization are provided. There is a hotel, cafe and restaurant. The settlement also has its own bakery, honey. center, travel agency, supermarket, post office, bank branch. Information about the attractions of the park can be obtained at the visitor center "Bovaly", which is located nearJaber. There is also an opportunity to purchase interesting homemade souvenirs made by the local Aboriginal population.
Australia's national parks vary in size and Kakadu is no exception. Its territory is so large that it is impossible to get around in one day. For tourists in the park there are various routes. Hiking can take place along the monsoon forest or near the ponds on special trails.
Also, you can go to the main attractions with a car tour. It is possible to go on your own by jeep to the Kulpin gorge and spend the night there in the canyon. But trips are only possible during a certain period, since many landscapes of the park remain flooded during the rainy season.
In Kakadu, excursions are organized along the Alligator River. It offers an amazing opportunity to admire unusual Australian birds and see crocodiles in their habitat.
To embrace the scale of the park and admire its beauty from above, flights are carried out here on light aircraft. You can arrange such a trip at Jaberu Airport.
Location
But where is Kakadu Park and how can you get to it? It's actually easy to find it. It is located on the Arnhem Land peninsula in northern Australia. If you drive east from Darwin along the Arnhem Highway, in three hours you will arrive in this amazing area.
