Napier Range facts for kids
The Napier Range is a cool mountain range found in the Kimberley area of Western Australia. It runs alongside another range called the Wunaamin-Miliwundi Ranges.
Most of the Kimberley area is made of sandstone. But the Napier Range is special because it's mostly made from limestone. This limestone has been worn away over millions of years, creating unique shapes. The rocky ridges you see are actually what's left of an ancient coral reef system that formed about 350 million years ago!
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Amazing Gorges and Rivers
The Napier Range is famous for its incredible gorges, which are like deep valleys carved by rivers.
Windjana Gorge
Windjana Gorge is one of the most impressive spots. It was formed by the Lennard River cutting its way through the limestone. Imagine how powerful that river must have been over millions of years!
Geikie Gorge
Another amazing place is Geikie Gorge, also known as Danggu Gorge. Here, the mighty Fitzroy River flows right through the range. Both Windjana and Geikie Gorges were created from the same ancient reef system.
Other River Carvings
The Barker River also helped shape the range by carving out Barker Gorge. The highest point in the Napier Range is Mount Behm, which stands about 325 meters (1,066 feet) above sea level.
Jandamarra and History
The Napier Range became well-known because of a brave Aboriginal man named Jandamarra. He was a Bunuba warrior who fought for his people's land and freedom in the late 1800s. He was the subject of a huge police search, which led to the building of the Lillimilura police outpost. This outpost is on the southern side of the range, about four kilometers from Windjana Gorge.
Exploring the Range
In 1988, a big group of 30 scientists from the Royal Geographical Society and the Linnaean Society went on an expedition through the Napier Range. They studied the plants, animals, and the way the land was formed (geomorphology). Their work helped us learn a lot more about this unique part of Australia.
