Limmen National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Limmen National ParkNorthern Territory |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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Limmen National Park map
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| Nearest town or city | Katherine |
| Established | 26 June 2012 |
| Area | 9,369.26 km2 (3,617.5 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory |
| Website | Limmen National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of the Northern Territory |
Limmen National Park is a huge and amazing protected area in Australia's Northern Territory. It was created in 2012 and is the third largest national park in this region. The park covers a massive area of about 9,369 square kilometers. That's bigger than many small countries! It's located around 600 kilometers south-east of Darwin, right near the Gulf of Carpentaria. The park is named after the Limmen Bight River, which flows through it.
Limmen National Park is home to many different landscapes. You can find beautiful wetlands, interesting sandstone rock formations, and many rivers. It's a special place where nature thrives.
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Exploring Limmen National Park's Wonders
Limmen National Park offers many exciting things to see and do. It is known for its unique natural features and ancient artworks. These attractions make it a great place to learn about nature and history.
The Amazing "Lost Cities"
One of the main attractions in the park are the "Lost Cities." These are incredible sandstone rock formations. They look a lot like tall apartment blocks or city skyscrapers. It's easy to imagine a hidden city among these natural towers.
Ancient Rock Art Discoveries
Limmen National Park is also home to very rare and special rock art. This art was found in a rock shelter known as Yilbilinji. It gives us a peek into the lives of people from long ago.
Tiny Stencilled Art at Yilbilinji
Usually, rock art made by stencilling uses body parts, like hands, as the stencil. This creates life-sized images. But at Yilbilinji, the art is very different. It features miniature stencilled images. This type of tiny art is extremely rare.
Archaeologists found these unique artworks in 2017. There are 17 images in total. They show human figures, boomerangs, and animals like crabs and long-necked turtles. There are also wavy lines and interesting geometric shapes.
Where Else Is This Art Found?
The miniature stencilled art at Yilbilinji is one of only three known examples in the world. The other two places are Nielson's Creek in New South Wales, Australia, and Kisar Island in Indonesia. This makes the art in Limmen National Park very important for understanding ancient cultures.
Scientists think that the artists might have used beeswax to create the stencils for these tiny designs. This shows how clever and creative ancient people were.
