Birksgate Range facts for kids
The Birksgate Range is a group of mountains found in the northwest part of South Australia. It sits on the edge of the huge Great Victoria Desert. This mountain range stretches for about 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) from Iltur in the southeast to Watarru in the northwest. Part of the northern area of the range is protected within the Watarru Indigenous Protected Area.
The Birksgate Range isn't like one long, connected line of mountains. Instead, it's made up of many separate rock formations. These are mostly granite rocks that have been shaped by weather over time, making them look like rounded or rugged hills. Flat plains and sand dunes separate these hills, so they don't appear connected. The mountains are not very tall, with the highest points found at the northern end of the range.
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Exploring the Peaks of Birksgate Range
The Birksgate Range has several notable peaks, each with its own height.
Northern Peaks
Near Watarru, at the northeastern end of the range, you'll find Mount Lindsay, which is 819 meters (about 2,687 feet) tall, and Mount Wooltarlinna. These are some of the higher points in the range.
Central and Southern Peaks
Moving southwest, you'll come across Mount Holder and Mount Sir Thomas, which stands at 773 meters (about 2,536 feet). As the range continues southeast along the desert's edge, the hills generally become lower and more spread out. Mount Poondinna, at 678 meters (about 2,224 feet), is the tallest peak in the middle part of the range. Further to the southeast are Mounts Cheesman and Yaroona (sometimes spelled Yaruna). The very end of the range is at Iltur, also known as Coffin Hill.
How the Birksgate Range Got Its Name
The Birksgate Range was named by an explorer named David Lindsay. He led a big trip called the Elder Scientific Exploring Expedition. This expedition traveled across the Great Victoria Desert between April 1891 and March 1892.
Lindsay named the range after Sir Thomas Elder, who was the person who paid for and provided all the equipment for their expedition. "Birksgate" was the name of Sir Thomas Elder's house in Adelaide.
