Kennedy Range National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kennedy Range National ParkWestern Australia |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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Nearest town or city | Carnarvon |
Established | 1993 |
Area | 1,416.6 km2 (547.0 sq mi) |
Managing authorities | Department of Environment and Conservation |
Website | Kennedy Range National Park |
See also | List of protected areas of Western Australia |
Kennedy Range National Park is a special nature park in Western Australia. It's about 830 kilometers north of Perth. That's a long drive! It's also about 150 kilometers east of Carnarvon, a coastal town. This park is known for its amazing cliffs and canyons.
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Exploring the Kennedy Range
The Kennedy Range is like a giant, flat-topped mountain, called a mesa. It stretches for about 150 kilometers! This huge landform sits near the Gascoyne River. You'll see amazing sandstone cliffs on its southern and eastern sides. These cliffs are cut by deep, narrow canyons, some as tall as 100 meters!
A Look at History
First Peoples of the Range
For thousands of years, the Kennedy Range was home to Indigenous Australians. It was a natural border between two groups: the Maia and the Malgaru peoples. Natural springs around the range provided water and attracted animals for hunting. They also found special rocks called chert to make tools. Over 100 sites in the park show that people lived here for more than 20,000 years!
European Explorers and Settlers
The first European to visit this area was Francis Thomas Gregory in 1858. He named the range after the Governor of Western Australia at the time, Arthur Edward Kennedy. Gregory also named the nearby Lyons River before moving on to Mount Augustus.
Later, people started farming in the area. Charles Samuel Brockman set up Boolathana Station in 1877. For a while, the region was successful at producing wool. But by the 1930s, too much grazing by animals, dry weather, and the Great Depression caused many farms to struggle.
The Park Today
The Kennedy Range National Park was officially created in 1993. It's a great place to visit and explore nature.
What to Do and See
The park has some facilities for visitors. You can find a basic toilet and campsites at Temple Gorge. There are also several walking trails where you can hike and see the beautiful scenery. Remember to bring your own water, as none is available in the park. Entry to the park is free, but you do need to pay a fee if you want to camp.
Amazing Wildflowers
One of the best times to visit the park is after heavy rains. This is when the desert comes alive with colorful wildflowers! More than 80 different kinds of wildflowers grow here. You might see mulla mulla, hakeas, Eremophilas, Calytrix, Verticordia, and various everlasting daisies.
Unique Wildlife
The Kennedy Range is also home to a special lizard. It's called the "Kennedy Range broad-blazed slider" (Lerista kennedyensis). This lizard is named after the range itself!