Kroombit Tops National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kroombit Tops National ParkQueensland |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Kroombit Tops National Park
Location in Queensland
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| Nearest town or city | Biloela |
| Established | 1974 |
| Area | 74.6 km2 (28.8 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Kroombit Tops National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of Queensland |
Kroombit Tops is a special national park located in Central Queensland, Australia. It's found between the towns of Monto and Calliope, about 399 kilometers (248 miles) northwest of Brisbane. Another park, Cania Gorge National Park, is just 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Kroombit Tops.
This park was officially created in 1974. It is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Kroombit Tops covers an area of 74.6 square kilometers (28.8 square miles).
A famous event happened here in 1945. An American bomber plane, called "Beautiful Betsy", crashed in the area. Its wreckage was found many years later in 1994.
Visitors to Kroombit Tops can enjoy many outdoor activities. These include watching birds, driving off-road, and going for bushwalks. You are also allowed to camp inside the park.
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Unique Animals of Kroombit Tops
Kroombit Tops National Park is home to some very rare animals. These creatures are found almost nowhere else in the world.
The Kroombit Tinker Frog
One of the most special animals here is the Kroombit tinker frog. This tiny frog has only ever been found living inside this park. It is extremely rare, with only a few hundred left in the wild.
As of November 2020, experts believed fewer than 200 of these frogs remained. They live in small, separate groups within the rainforest. However, there is hope for this species. In the same month, the very first froglet of this species was successfully bred in captivity. This happened at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a big step towards saving them from extinction.
The Silver-Headed Antechinus
In 2013, scientists discovered a brand new type of marsupial in the park. This small mammal is called the silver-headed antechinus. Like the tinker frog, it has only been found living in Kroombit Tops National Park. This shows how unique and important the park's environment is.
Wild Horses (Brumbies)
A small group of wild horses, known as brumbies, also live in the park. Sometimes, these horses are gathered up in a process called a muster. This helps to control their numbers and keep the park's ecosystem balanced.
The "Beautiful Betsy" Plane Crash
On August 2, 1994, a significant discovery was made in Kroombit Tops National Park. The wreckage of a United States Army Air Forces plane was found. This plane was a Consolidated B-24D Liberator bomber, nicknamed Beautiful Betsy.
The aircraft had disappeared many years earlier, on February 26, 1945. It went missing during a stormy flight from Darwin to Brisbane. This flight was a regular trip to transport soldiers and supplies. The discovery of Beautiful Betsy solved a long-standing mystery about what happened to the plane and its crew.
Images for kids
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Wreckage of Beautiful Betsy, 2011
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional Cumbres Kroombit para niños
