Mount Kosciuszko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Kosciuszko |
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| Tar-gan-gil/Kunama Namadgi | |
Mount Kosciuszko viewed from the Summit Walk
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,228 m (7,310 ft) |
| Prominence | 2,228 m (7,310 ft) |
| Isolation | 1,894.26 km (1,177.04 mi) |
| Listing | |
| Geography | |
 Mount Kosciuszko
Location in New South Wales
Mount Kosciuszko
Location in Victoria
Mount Kosciuszko
Location in Australia
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| Parent range | Main Range, Great Dividing Range |
| Topo map | Perisher Valley |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Walk (dirt road) |
Mount Kosciuszko (pronounced KOZ-ee-USK-oh) is the tallest mountain in mainland Australia. It stands at 2,228 meters (7,310 feet) above sea level. You can find it in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, within the beautiful Kosciuszko National Park. This park is part of the larger Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves. The mountain is west of Crackenback and close to Jindabyne, near the border with Victoria.
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How Mount Kosciuszko Got Its Name
The mountain was named by a Polish explorer named Paweł Strzelecki in 1840. He chose the name to honor Tadeusz Kościuszko, a famous general and hero from Poland and the American Revolutionary War. Strzelecki thought the mountain looked like the Kościuszko Mound in Kraków, Poland.
Strzelecki led an exploration team, including James Macarthur and Indigenous guides Charlie Tarra and Jackey. They set out to explore New South Wales. Strzelecki wanted to study the land, climate, and geography. On March 12, 1840, he reached what he believed was Australia's highest point.
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The team first climbed a peak now called Mount Townsend, which is Australia's second-highest mountain. Strzelecki noticed that a nearby peak was slightly taller. He named this higher peak Mount Kosciusko.
Clearing Up the Mountain's Name
For a while, there was some confusion about which mountain was truly the highest. Some early maps from Victoria accidentally swapped the names of Mount Kosciuszko and Mount Townsend.
In 1885, an explorer named Robert von Lendenfeld, using one of these confusing maps, climbed Mount Townsend, thinking it was Mount Kosciuszko. He also noticed a taller peak nearby. He named that peak Mount Townsend.
The New South Wales Department of Mines later corrected this mistake. They confirmed that the mountain Strzelecki named Mount Kosciuszko was indeed the highest. The name "Mount Kosciuszko" was officially adopted in 1997, changing from the older spelling "Mount Kosciusko."
Aboriginal Names for the Area
The local Aboriginal people, the Ngarigo, have their own names for the mountains. Some names like Jagungal or Tar-gan-gil are linked to Mount Townsend. These names often refer to the Bogong Moth, which rests on the mountains during summer.
In 2019, a group suggested "Kunama Namadgi" as a dual name for Mount Kosciuszko. They said it means "snow" and "mountain" in the Ngarigo language. However, other Ngarigo people have different views on this name.
What Mount Kosciuszko is Made Of
Mount Kosciuszko was formed by the Earth's crust slowly pushing upwards over millions of years. It's not a volcano. The top of the mountain has large granite boulders, which are very old rocks that have been shaped by weather over time.
Plants You Might See
The mountain is home to unique plants that can survive in the cold, high-altitude environment. Some of these include:
- Kosciuszko buttercup (Ranunculus anemoneus)
- Vickery's grass (Rytidosperma vickeryae)
- Phebalium (Nematalolepis ovatifolia)
- Billy buttons (Craspedia spp.)
- Snow gum trees
Reaching the Top of Mount Kosciuszko
Mount Kosciuszko is the highest point in mainland Australia, and it's quite an adventure to reach its summit!
Walking and Cycling Paths
Until 1977, people could drive almost to the very top. But to protect the environment, the road was closed to cars. Now, you can walk or cycle from Charlotte Pass for about 7.6 kilometers (4.7 miles) to Rawson Pass. Rawson Pass is already 2,100 meters (6,890 feet) high! From there, a 1.4-kilometer (0.9-mile) walking path leads you to the summit.
Another popular way to reach the peak is from Thredbo. This walk takes about 3 to 3.5 hours round trip. You start from the top of the Thredbo Kosciuszko Express chairlift, which runs all year. The path is a special mesh walkway designed to protect the plants and prevent erosion. It's about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) to Rawson Pass, then another 1.4 kilometers to the summit. Many people say this is the easiest climb among the world's Seven Summits.
In 2007, Australia's highest public toilet was built at Rawson Pass. This helps manage the many visitors who come each summer.
The Challenging Hannel's Spur Track
For those who love a challenge, there's the historic Hannel's Spur Track. This route is about 15.5 kilometers (9.6 miles) long and approaches the mountain from the northwest. It's known as Australia's biggest vertical climb, going up 1,800 meters (5,900 feet)!
This is the same path explorer Paul Strzelecki used in 1840. Stockmen also used it to bring cattle to graze in the alpine meadows during summer. For thousands of years, Aboriginal tribes from the Murray Valley used this route to find Bogong moths, which were a tasty food source in the summer.
Winter Activities
In winter and spring (usually from June to October), the peak and surrounding areas are covered in snow. The path from Charlotte Pass is marked with snow poles, guiding cross-country skiers. The track from Thredbo is also easy to follow until it's covered by snow.
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Fun Things to Do
Kosciuszko National Park is also famous for its ski resorts, including Thredbo, Charlotte Pass, and Perisher. These are the closest downhill ski slopes to cities like Canberra and Sydney.
Every December, there's a super long running race called the Coast to Kosciuszko. Runners start at the coast, 240 kilometers (149 miles) away, and finish at the top of Mount Kosciuszko!
Other Tall Mountains in Australia's Territory
While Mount Kosciuszko is the highest on mainland Australia, there are even taller peaks in territories that Australia manages or claims:
- Mawson Peak (2,745 meters or 9,006 feet) on Heard Island.
- Dome Argus (4,030 meters or 13,222 feet), Mount McClintock (3,490 meters or 11,450 feet), and Mount Menzies (3,355 meters or 11,007 feet) in the Australian Antarctic Territory.
Also, Puncak Jaya in New Guinea, Indonesia, is the highest mountain in the entire Australian continent (which includes New Guinea) and Oceania, standing at 4,884 meters (16,024 feet).
Images for kids
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Mt Kosciuszko pictured in summer, without snow
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Kosciuszko National Park as viewed from the summit
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The base of a survey trig marker at the summit
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East side of the mountain
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Mount Kosciuszko Summit walk
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The summit from Charlotte Pass, New South Wales
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Mount Etheridge from south side showing high elevation toilet at Rawson Pass
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View of Mount Kosciuszko and the Etheridge Range from the headwaters of the Snowy River
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The plate at the top
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The Snowy River flowing down from the summit.
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Lake Cootapatamba, the lake on the highest place in the Australian mainland
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Adjacent mountain ranges
See also
In Spanish: Monte Kosciuszko para niños
- Australian Alps
- Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves
- List of mountains of Australia
