Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park South Australia
IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
Rangers looking at Approdinna Attora Knolls in the Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park
Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Oodnadatta
Established	14 December 1967
Area	6,932.68 km2 (2,676.7 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
Website	Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

The Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park is a very special protected area in South Australia. It is located far north of Adelaide, the state capital. This park is a huge part of the famous Simpson Desert. It helps protect amazing desert plants and animals.

About Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park

This conservation park is found within the Simpson Desert. It is about 970 kilometers (600 miles) north of Adelaide. It is also about 215 kilometers (134 miles) north-east of the town of Oodnadatta.

The park shares its northern borders with the Northern Territory and Queensland. To its west, south, and east, it is next to the Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert Regional Reserve.

Why is this Park Special?

The Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park is very important. It protects one of the best examples of a dune desert in the world. This park is part of a larger protected area. This area also includes the Simpson Desert Regional Reserve and Witjira National Park.

You can find many different types of plants and animals here. The landscape has various dune systems. There are also large playa lakes, which are dry lakebeds. You will see spinifex grasslands and Acacia woodlands. These acacia trees get water from underground springs.

History of the Park

This land first became a protected area on December 14, 1967. It was called a national park back then. On April 27, 1972, it was renamed the Simpson Desert Conservation Park. This change happened under a new law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

As of 2018, the park covered a large area of 6,932.68 square kilometers (2,676.72 square miles). On August 2, 2018, the government of South Australia changed its name again. It became the Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park.

Park Closures

Sometimes, the park has to close for safety. For example, from December 1, 2008, to March 15, 2009, the park was closed to visitors. This was because of the extreme heat during the Australian summer. The nearby Simpson Desert Regional Reserve was also closed at that time.

Park Protection Status

The Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park is a highly protected area. It is classified as an IUCN Category Ia protected area. This means it is a strict nature reserve. These areas are protected mainly for scientific research or environmental monitoring. They are kept as wild as possible.