Mount Warrenheip facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Warrenheip(Warrengeep) |
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Mount Warrenheip, viewed from Mount Buninyong
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 741 metres (2,431 ft) AHD |
| Listing | List of volcanoes in Australia |
| Geography | |
 Mount Warrenheip
(Warrengeep) Location in Victoria
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| Location | Warrenheip, Australia |
Mount Warrenheip (also known as Warrengeep in the Wathawarrung language) is an old, inactive scoria volcanic cone in Victoria, Australia. This means it's a volcano that hasn't erupted for a very long time and isn't expected to erupt again. It's made from small, dark, rocky pieces called scoria.
The mountain stands at 714 metres (2,343 ft) (about 2,343 feet) above sea level. It's a famous landmark near the town of Dunnstown and is located about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) east of the center of Ballarat, in a place called Warrenheip.
Mount Warrenheip gets snow about five days a year. Its weather is similar to nearby Ballarat, but it's often a bit colder because it's higher up and more exposed to the wind. The volcano last erupted around 1,000,000 years ago. It's special because, along with nearby Mount Buninyong, it's one of only two scoria volcanoes in Victoria that are still covered in forests.
Exploring Mount Warrenheip
Mount Warrenheip is surrounded by open farmland. At the base of the mountain, you'll find Kryal Castle, a medieval adventure park, and fields where cattle graze.
The name Warrenheip comes from the Wathaurong word Warrengeep. This word means "emu's feathers," which describes how the fern-like plants once covered the mountain. In spring, you can see pretty forget-me-not flowers growing on its slopes. Most of the mountain is a special area called a nature conservation reserve, which helps protect the environment. You might even spot a few koalas and wallabies living there!
Sadly, hundreds of trees on the mountain have died in recent years. These include peppermint trees, manna gums, and stringy bark gums. Scientists are still trying to figure out why this is happening.
Mount Warrenheip has also experienced several bushfires over the years. Major fires occurred in 1866, 1901, 1939, and most recently in February 2013.
Communication Towers
At the very top of Mount Warrenheip, there are four tall telecommunications towers. These towers are very important for communication! They send out radio signals for local stations like Radio 3BA and Voice FM 99.9. They also help with mobile phone service for Telstra, provide WiMax internet services, and are used for amateur radio repeaters and police dispatch radios.
