Mann Ranges facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mann Ranges |
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|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,050 m (3,440 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Central Australia |
| State/Province | AUS |
The Mann Ranges are a group of mountains in central Australia. They are found in the far northwest part of South Australia. A small part of the ranges also crosses the border into the Northern Territory.
These mountains are part of a larger geological area called the Musgrave Block. This area also includes the Petermann Ranges and the Musgrave Ranges. The mountains in this region were created a very long time ago. This happened during an event called the Petermann Orogeny, between 600 and 550 million years ago.
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Traditional Owners and Dreamtime Stories
The land where the Mann Ranges are located is the traditional home of the Pitjantjatjara people. They are an Australian Aboriginal nation. The Pitjantjatjara people have many important spiritual stories connected to this area.
The Story of Wati Ngiṉṯaka
One of the main stories is about Wati Ngiṉṯaka. He is known as the perentie lizard man. He is a creation spirit from the Dreamtime. The Dreamtime is a very important time when the world was created.
The Pitjantjatjara people believe that Wati Ngiṉṯaka created the landforms in the Mann Ranges. He did this as he traveled through the area during the Dreamtime. His journey created a network of paths called songlines. These songlines are very important spiritually to the native people.
Communities in the Area
Today, the largest communities in this area are Kaṉpi and Nyapaṟi. These communities are home to many Pitjantjatjara people. They continue to care for their traditional lands and stories.
Early European Exploration
The first European person to visit the Mann Ranges was William Gosse. He explored the area in 1873. Gosse and his team first saw the ranges from the top of Uluru.
William Gosse's Journey
Local Aboriginal people helped Gosse and his team explore the Mann Ranges. After exploring these mountains, Gosse traveled west to the Tomkinson Ranges. However, he decided not to cross the large Great Victoria Desert.
Instead, he returned to the Mann Ranges. From there, he traveled eastward. His journey ended in the Musgrave Ranges.
