Devonian Reef facts for kids
The Balili Conservation Park, also known as the Devonian Reef Conservation Park, is a special protected area in Western Australia. It's located in the amazing Kimberley region, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest of Fitzroy Crossing. This park is super important because it helps protect unique landforms and wildlife. It includes three well-known national parks: Geikie Gorge National Park, Tunnel Creek National Park, and Windjana Gorge National Park.
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What is the Balili Conservation Park?
The Balili Conservation Park is a large area of land that is protected by the Australian government. This means its natural features, plants, and animals are kept safe. It's a place where you can see incredible landscapes formed over millions of years. The park is also known as the Devonian Reef Conservation Park because it holds ancient secrets from a time called the Devonian Period.
How were the amazing landforms created?
Imagine a shallow sea covering this area about 380 to 360 million years ago. During this time, which scientists call the Devonian Period, a huge limestone reef grew here. This reef was like an underwater city, built by tiny sea creatures over 20 million years!
Eventually, the sea disappeared, and the reef became dry land. Over millions of years, wind and water slowly carved out valleys and gorges from the ancient reef. This is how the incredible cliffs, caves, and river gorges you see today were formed. They are like giant history books made of rock!
Who looks after the park?
In 2017, a special agreement was made to manage the Balili Conservation Park. The Bunuba Dawangarri traditional owners, who are the Aboriginal people of this land, now work together with the Western Australian government. They share the responsibility of looking after this important place, combining traditional knowledge with modern conservation methods.
Exploring Geikie Gorge National Park
Geikie Gorge National Park is a beautiful part of the Balili Conservation Park. It's about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Fitzroy Crossing. Here, the mighty Fitzroy River has carved a deep gorge, about 30 meters (98 feet) deep, between two ranges called Oscar and Geikie.
What can you see at Geikie Gorge?
When you visit Geikie Gorge, you can see clear evidence of the ancient Devonian reef. The gorge walls show layers of limestone rock, which are like pages in a book telling the story of life from millions of years ago. You might even spot fossils, which are the preserved remains of ancient sea creatures that lived in the reef. It's a fantastic place to learn about Earth's history!
Exploring Tunnel Creek National Park
Tunnel Creek National Park is another fascinating part of the conservation park. It's located about 115 kilometers (71 miles) from Fitzroy Crossing. This park is famous for having the oldest cave system in Western Australia.
What makes Tunnel Creek special?
A river flows right through a limestone mountain range for about 750 meters (2,460 feet), creating a natural tunnel. This amazing cave system was once used by Jandamarra, an Aboriginal leader, as a hiding place. Inside the caves, you'll find impressive rock formations called stalactites, which hang down from the ceiling. It's also home to many different kinds of bats, with at least five species making the caves their home.
Exploring Windjana Gorge National Park
Windjana Gorge is also found in the Napier Range, like Tunnel Creek. This gorge is very long, stretching for about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles), and its walls can reach heights of 100 meters (328 feet) in some places.
What can you do at Windjana Gorge?
The Lennard River flows through Windjana Gorge, creating a stunning waterway surrounded by towering cliffs. It's a great place to see the ancient reef system exposed in the rock walls. The gorge is also home to freshwater crocodiles, so it's important to be careful and observe them from a safe distance.
