Mount Finke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Finke |
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 Mount Finke
Location in South Australia
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 369 m (1,211 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Yellabinna, South Australia, Australia |
Mount Finke is a special type of hill called a monadnock. This means it's a single, isolated hill that stands out from the flat land around it. It is located in the Australian state of South Australia, in a place called Yellabinna. This unique mountain is about 125 kilometers (about 78 miles) north of a town called Ceduna.
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Mount Finke: An Outback Landmark
What is Mount Finke?
Mount Finke is a large, isolated hill. It is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) long. The top of Mount Finke is 369 meters (1,211 feet) above sea level. This means it stands about 270 meters (886 feet) taller than the flat land around it.
Scientists believe Mount Finke is a very old landform. It is thought to be about 250 million years old. It is made of a hard rock called quartzite. This rock is steeply tilted, showing how it was formed over millions of years.
Who Named Mount Finke?
Mount Finke was named by a famous British explorer named John McDouall Stuart. He explored many parts of Australia. Stuart named the mountain on August 7, 1858.
He named it after his friend, William Finke. William Finke was involved in mining and farming activities in Australia. It was common for explorers to name places after important people in their lives.
Plants and Animals of Mount Finke
Mount Finke is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. It has a rich biodiversity, meaning a wide variety of life. There are 266 different plant species found here.
The plants grow in thin soils over the hard quartzite rock. Some common trees and shrubs include the Victoria Spring Mallee (Eucalyptus trivialis), Mulga (Acacia aneura), and Ooldea Mallee (Eucalyptus youngiana). You might also see Porcupine Grass (Triodia irritans).
One very special plant is Grevillea treueriana. This plant is endemic to Mount Finke. This means it is found naturally only in this specific area and nowhere else in the world.
Many animals also live around Mount Finke. Some of the animals you might find include the Euro (Macropus robustus), which is a type of wallaroo. There is also the Little Rock Dragon (Ctenophorus fionii), a small lizard. Birds like the Little Wood Swallow (Artamus minor) also make their home here.
Protecting Mount Finke
Since 2005, Mount Finke has been part of a protected area. This means the land is set aside to keep its natural environment safe. It is now within the Yellabinna Wilderness Protection Area.
This area was once part of the Yellabinna Regional Reserve. Being a Wilderness Protection Area gives Mount Finke even stronger protection. This helps to preserve its unique plants, animals, and natural beauty for the future.
