Purnululu National Park Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Purnululu National Park Western Australia
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Echidna Chasm
Purnululu National Park Location in Western Australia
Nearest town or city	Halls Creek
Established	1987
Area	2,397.23 km² (925.6 sq mi)
Region	AU-WA
Managing authorities	WA Department of Parks and Wildlife
Website	Purnululu National Park
Footnotes
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Natural: vii, viii
Inscription	2003 (27th Session)

See also	List of protected areas of Western Australia

Purnululu National Park is an amazing national park located in the north-east of Western Australia. It is a very special place, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. This means it has unique natural features that are important for everyone in the world to protect.

The park covers a huge area, about 2,397 square kilometers (which is like 240,000 football fields!). It is most famous for its incredible rock formations called the Bungle Bungle Ranges. These ranges are made from sandstone that formed millions of years ago. Over time, wind and water have slowly worn away the rock, creating unusual shapes like giant beehives, towers, and cones.

The Bungle Bungle Ranges
- How the Bungle Bungles Formed
- The Stripes of the Bungle Bungles
Exploring Purnululu National Park
- What to See and Do
Protecting Purnululu
Related pages
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The Bungle Bungle Ranges

The Bungle Bungle Ranges are the main attraction of Purnululu National Park. These unique rock formations look like giant, striped beehives. They are made of sandstone that is about 360 million years old!

How the Bungle Bungles Formed

The rocks of the Bungle Bungles started as sand and pebbles. These materials were laid down by ancient rivers. Over millions of years, they were pressed together and turned into solid sandstone. Then, about 20 million years ago, the land slowly lifted up. This caused the rivers and rain to start eroding, or wearing away, the soft sandstone. This process created the amazing domes and towers we see today.

The Stripes of the Bungle Bungles

The Bungle Bungle domes have distinct orange and dark grey stripes.

The orange stripes are colored by iron oxide, which is like rust. This part of the rock dries out quickly after rain.
The dark grey stripes are where tiny living things, like bacteria and algae, grow. These parts of the rock stay damp longer, allowing the organisms to thrive.

Exploring Purnululu National Park

Beyond the famous Bungle Bungles, Purnululu National Park offers other interesting landscapes. You can find wide, flat sand plains surrounding the rock formations. There is also the Ord River valley, which is important for local wildlife. You might also see limestone ridges in some areas of the park.

What to See and Do

Visitors to Purnululu National Park can explore many amazing spots.

Cathedral Gorge: This is a huge natural amphitheater, or open-air theater, carved into the rock. The acoustics inside are incredible!
Echidna Chasm: This is a very narrow gorge with towering walls. Sunlight only reaches the bottom for a short time each day, creating a magical glow.
The Domes Walk: This easy walk takes you right among the famous beehive-shaped domes. It's a great way to see them up close.

Echidna Chasm is a narrow, towering gorge.

Protecting Purnululu

Purnululu National Park was established in 1987 to protect its unique natural beauty. In 2003, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's considered one of the most important natural places on Earth. The park is managed by the WA Department of Parks and Wildlife. They work hard to keep it safe for both nature and visitors.