Ediacara, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids EdiacaraSouth Australia |
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 Ediacara
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 26 April 2013 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5730 | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACST (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Pastoral Unincorporated Area | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Far North | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Stuart | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
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| Footnotes | Adjoining localities | ||||||||||||||
Ediacara is a special place in South Australia. It is located about 500 kilometers (310 miles) north of Adelaide, the state capital. It is also about 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of the town of Leigh Creek. This area is famous for its unique Nilpena Ediacara National Park and the Ediacara Hills.
What is Ediacara?
Ediacara is more than just a place on a map. It is a locality in South Australia. A locality is like a small area or district. The name "Ediacara" comes from the Ediacara Hills found there. These hills are very important to scientists.
Why is Ediacara famous?
Ediacara is globally famous for its incredible fossils. These fossils are some of the oldest complex life forms found on Earth. They are called the Ediacaran biota. These creatures lived more than 540 million years ago! They existed before the time of dinosaurs and even before most animals with hard shells or bones.
The Ediacaran Period
The discovery of these fossils in the Ediacara Hills was so important that a whole new geological time period was named after it. This period is called the Ediacaran Period. It is the last period of the Neoproterozoic Era. It lasted from about 635 to 541 million years ago.
History of the Area
People have been interested in the Ediacara area for a long time.
Early Mining Efforts
Mining was first reported here in 1888. The area became known as the Ediacara Mines. People tried to find valuable minerals. Even in 1967, a company called C.R.A. Exploration tried to find minerals using special drilling. However, they did not find enough to continue.
Naming the Locality
The locality of Ediacara was officially created on April 26, 2013. Its name comes from the long-standing local names, like the Ediacara Range. This helps keep the history of the area alive.
Location and Protected Areas
Ediacara is in a remote part of South Australia.
Where is Ediacara?
As mentioned, Ediacara is about 500 kilometers north of Adelaide. It is also about 30 kilometers southwest of Leigh Creek. This area is part of the Far North region of South Australia.
Nilpena Ediacara National Park
A big part of Ediacara is covered by the Nilpena Ediacara National Park. This park is a protected area. This means it is a special place where nature and important historical sites are kept safe. The park was made much larger in June 2021. It grew by 60,000 hectares (about 148,000 acres). This expansion helps protect more of the unique fossils and landscape.
