Elliot Price Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elliot Price Conservation Park Lake Eyre, South Australia
IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
Elliot Price Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Marree
Established	9 November 1967
Area	634.53 km2 (245.0 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

The Elliot Price Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It's located near the famous Lake Eyre, about 90 kilometers (about 56 miles) north-west of a town called Marree. This park helps protect a unique part of Australia's wilderness.

What is a Conservation Park?

A conservation park is a place where nature is protected. This means the land, plants, and animals are kept safe from harm. The Elliot Price Conservation Park is managed by the Department for Environment and Water. They make sure this important area stays wild and healthy.

History of the Park

This area first became a protected place on November 9, 1967. Back then, it was called the Elliot Price Wilderness National Park. Later, on April 27, 1972, its name was changed to the Elliot Price Conservation Park. This change happened under a law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The park was named after Elliot Price, who helped make sure this land could be set aside for conservation.

Where is Elliot Price Conservation Park?

The park covers land on the Hunt Peninsula and Brooks Island. These areas are at the southern end of Lake Eyre, which is a huge, usually dry salt lake. Some parts of the park can get flooded when Lake Eyre fills up with water. The park is surrounded by the larger Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park on its west, north, and east sides. As of 2013, the park is closed to visitors to help protect its delicate environment.

Unique Landscape

The Hunt Peninsula is a long piece of land that stretches about 40 kilometers (25 miles) into Lake Eyre North. It sits between two bays called Madigan Gulf and Jackboot Bay. The land here is mostly made of limestone. In some southern parts, it's covered by a thin layer of sand blown by the wind. You can also find saltpans, which are flat areas covered in salt, similar to the bed of Lake Eyre itself.

Along the shoreline, the limestone forms tall cliffs in some places. In other areas, the cliffs have been worn down by weather. You might also see sand dunes that are held in place by plants like nitre bush.

Why is This Park Special?

Elliot Price Conservation Park is very important because it's an "ungrazed arid wilderness." This means it's a dry, wild area where animals like cattle or sheep have not eaten the plants. This makes it a perfect place to study nature. Scientists can compare this untouched area to other lands where animals have grazed. This helps them understand how grazing affects the environment.

Rare Plants and Animals

The park is home to some rare and uncommon species. These include:

• Plants:
  • Cassia nemophila
  • C. oligophylla (a type of senna)
  • Goodenia mitchellii
  • Grevillea nematophylla
  • Frankenia foliosa
• Birds:
  • Tyto longimembris (known as the grass owl)
  • Amytornis barbatus (known as the grey grass-wren)

Finding these rare species makes the park a very important place for biodiversity.

Protecting Nature

The Elliot Price Conservation Park is classified as an IUCN Category Ia protected area. This is the strictest category for protected areas. It means the park is mainly for scientific research and protecting wilderness. Human visits are usually very limited or not allowed.

In 1980, the park was also listed on the Register of the National Estate. This register used to list places important to Australia's natural and cultural heritage, but it no longer exists.