Mount Remarkable National Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Remarkable National Park South Australia
IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
Mount Remarkable National Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Melrose Port Germein Port Pirie
Established	1 January 1952 (1952-01-01)
Area	182.71 km2 (70.5 sq mi)
Visitation	50,000 (in 2006)
Managing authorities	Department of Environment and Water
Website	Mount Remarkable National Park
Footnotes	nearest towns and cities
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Mount Remarkable National Park is a special protected area in the Australian state of South Australia. It's located about 238 kilometers north of the state capital, Adelaide, and 25 kilometers east of Port Augusta. The park is also named after its highest peak, Mount Remarkable, which stands tall at 960 meters. This park is a wonderful place to explore nature and see Australian wildlife.

Exploring the Park's Sections

The national park isn't just one big area; it's actually made up of three separate parts. Each part offers unique features and landscapes.

The Melrose Area

The largest part of the park is located right next to the town of Melrose. This section covers about 165.83 square kilometers. It includes popular spots like the Warren Bonython Link, Mambray Creek, and the impressive Mount Remarkable itself.

The Telowie Area

Another smaller part, known as the Telowie block, is about 0.35 square kilometers. You can find it on the west side of the Telowie Gorge Conservation Park. It's about 7.5 kilometers east of Port Germein and about 24 kilometers south of the Melrose section.

The Napperby Area

The third part is called the Napperby block. It covers about 16.72 square kilometers and is located right next to the town of Napperby. This section is about 4 kilometers south of the Telowie Gorge Conservation Park and about 12 kilometers north-east of the city of Port Pirie.

The park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area. This means it's a protected area where people can use natural resources in a sustainable way, while still protecting the environment.

History of the Park

Mount Remarkable National Park has a rich history of being protected and expanded over the years.

Early Protection Efforts

Areas within the park, like Mambray Creek and Alligator Gorge, first became protected in 1952. They were called 'national pleasure resorts' back then and were managed by the South Australian Government Tourist Bureau.

Becoming a National Park

In the 1960s, there was a push to create larger, more comprehensive national parks. This led to the creation of three separate wildlife reserves: Alligator Gorge, Mambray Creek, and Mount Remarkable. These reserves were officially established between 1965 and 1967.

Then, in 1972, these three wildlife reserves were combined and officially renamed the Mount Remarkable National Park. This was done under a new law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

Park Expansion Over Time

Since 1972, the park has more than doubled in size! New areas were added, including the Black Range Lookout and the Bluff in 1976. In 1993, more land was added, such as parts of the Willowie Forest Reserve and the Napperby Block.

In 2000, even more land was added. This new section was named "The Warren Bonython Link." It was named in honor of Warren Bonython, who had a long-standing interest in the area and was involved with the National Parks Foundation. Today, the park covers a total area of about 182.71 square kilometers.

Flora and Fauna

Mount Remarkable National Park is home to a wide variety of amazing animals and birds. When you visit, you might spot Goannas, emus, echidnas, and kookaburras walking around the park. It's also a birdwatcher's paradise, with 117 different native bird species. Some of the popular birds you might see include the colorful Australian ringneck parrots and the majestic wedge-tailed eagles.

Images for kids

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  View (looking north) along the Daveys Gully walking trail.

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  View (looking west) along the Daveys Gully walking trail.

See also

In Spanish: Parque nacional Monte Remarkable para niños