Einasleigh Uplands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Einasleigh UplandsEinasleigh Uplands savanna |
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View from Kalkani Crater, Undara Volcanic National Park
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IBRA 7 bioregion (in yellow); corresponds to WWF 'Einasleigh Uplands savanna' ecoregion
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| Ecology | |
| Realm | Australasian |
| Biome | tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 116,257 km2 (44,887 sq mi) |
| Country | Australia |
| States | Queensland |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Relatively stable/intact |
| Protected | 5,330 km² (5%) |
The Einasleigh Uplands is a special natural area in Queensland, Australia. It's a huge flat area, like a high plain, covered in savanna (grasslands with scattered trees) and woodlands. This region is also known as the Einasleigh Uplands savanna by the World Wildlife Fund.
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Where are the Einasleigh Uplands?
This interesting region is located inland from Queensland's wet coast. It's not as dry as some other savannas to the south. The Cape York Peninsula to the north is flatter and gets more rain. The Einasleigh Uplands have unique places like ancient lava flows and cool caves. One famous cave area is near Chillagoe.
The uplands are made of old volcanic rock. They are west of the Atherton Tableland, which is part of Australia's Great Dividing Range. This area stretches inland to the town of Croydon. The land is mostly grassy with eucalyptus trees. You can also find ridges, deep gorges, and amazing lava tubes here. The soil is very rich and good for plants.
Amazing Natural Features
Two cool natural spots are the Great Basalt Wall and the lava tubes in Undara Volcanic National Park. The Great Basalt Wall is a long, dried-up lava flow. The lava tubes are like underground tunnels formed by ancient lava.
Rivers of the Uplands
Many rivers start in the Einasleigh Uplands. The Flinders River flows northwest towards the Gulf of Carpentaria. Other rivers like the Palmer, Mitchell, and Gilbert-Einasleigh also flow that way. The Burdekin and Herbert Rivers flow southeast to the Coral Sea coast.
Towns in the Region
Some towns in the Einasleigh Uplands include Herberton and Croydon.
What's the Climate Like?
The climate here is cooler than the coast. In summer, nights can drop to about 9°C, while on the coast they stay around 20°C. Summer daytime temperatures are usually around 35°C. The region has a wet season from December to March, when it gets most of its rain.
Plants of the Einasleigh Uplands
This rocky upland area is mostly covered in ironbark eucalyptus woodlands. But you can also find wetlands and small patches of rainforest. In places where lava flowed long ago, you'll see thicker forests growing.
Animals of the Einasleigh Uplands
These woodlands are home to many amazing animals. You can spot different types of marsupials, like the antilopine kangaroo and the large eastern grey kangaroo. There are also special rock-wallabies that live almost nowhere else, such as the Godman's rock-wallaby and the Mareeba rock-wallaby.
Many unique mammals, reptiles, and insects live here. The thicker forests are especially rich in reptiles found only in this region. The caves and lava flows have their own special wildlife. Wet areas on the eastern side of the uplands also have unique creatures. Rivers like the Burdekin are important homes for waterbirds. The unique wetlands at Innot Hot springs are also great for birds.
Protecting the Einasleigh Uplands
People have used this area for cattle ranching for a long time. However, most of the region is not heavily populated, except for the Atherton Tableland where there are many farms. This means much of the natural landscape is still in good condition.
But there have been some changes. Sometimes, too many cattle eating plants can change the land. Also, some land has been cleared for farming, and new types of plants (weeds) have been introduced. Some areas with acacia trees, like the gidgee (Acacia cambagei), have been affected.
Luckily, many parts of the Einasleigh Uplands are protected. These protected areas include Undara Volcanic National Park, the Great Basalt Wall National Park, Blackbraes National Park, Kinrara National Park, Littleton National Park, part of Bulleringa National Park, and the caves of Chillagoe. These parks help keep the different types of habitats safe for the animals and plants that live there.
Images for kids
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Einasleigh Uplands bioregion, defined by the IBRA 7.
