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Kings Canyon (Northern Territory)

 
Kings Canyon (Northern Territory)

 
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Kings Canyon (Northern Territory)
 
 
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Kings Canyon is part of the Watarrka National Park
Watarrka National Park

Watarrka is a national park in the Northern Territory , 1316 km south of Darwin, Northern Territory and 323 km southwest of Alice Springs, Northern Territory....
 in Northern Territory
Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is a federal states and territories of Australia of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions....
, Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
. Sitting at the western end of the George Gill Range, it is 323 km southwest of Alice Springs
Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Alice Springs is the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Popularly known as "the Alice" or simply "Alice",Alice Springs is situated in geographic centre of Australia....
 and 1,316 km south of Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory

Darwin is the List of Australian capital cities of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 120,900, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely peopled Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities....
.

Description
The walls of Kings Canyon are over 300 metres high, with Kings Creek at the bottom. Part of the gorge is a sacred Aboriginal site and visitors are discouraged from walking off the walking tracks.

Two walks exists at Kings Canyon.






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Encyclopedia


Kings Canyon is part of the Watarrka National Park
Watarrka National Park

Watarrka is a national park in the Northern Territory , 1316 km south of Darwin, Northern Territory and 323 km southwest of Alice Springs, Northern Territory....
 in Northern Territory
Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is a federal states and territories of Australia of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions....
, Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
. Sitting at the western end of the George Gill Range, it is 323 km southwest of Alice Springs
Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Alice Springs is the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Popularly known as "the Alice" or simply "Alice",Alice Springs is situated in geographic centre of Australia....
 and 1,316 km south of Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory

Darwin is the List of Australian capital cities of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 120,900, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely peopled Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities....
.

Description


The walls of Kings Canyon are over 300 metres high, with Kings Creek at the bottom. Part of the gorge is a sacred Aboriginal site and visitors are discouraged from walking off the walking tracks.

Two walks exists at Kings Canyon. The 2 km (return) and approximately 1 hour Kings Creek Walk traces the bottom of the gorge. At the end of the walk is a platform, with views of the canyon walls above. The 6 km (loop) and 3-4 hour Kings Canyon Rim Walk traces the top of the canyon. A steep climb at the beginning of the walk, which locals call "Heartbreak Hill" (or "Heart Attack Hill", due to its steepness), takes visitors up to the top, with spectacular views of the gorge below and of the surrounding landscape. About half way during the walk, a detour descends to Garden of Eden, a permanent waterhole surrounded by lush plant life. The last half of the walk passes through a large maze of weathered sandstone
Sandstone

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock Particle size . Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust ....
 domes
Dome (geology)

In structural geology, a dome is a deformational feature consisting of symmetrically-dipping anticlines; their general outline on a geologic map is circular or oval....
, reminiscent of the Bungle Bungle
Purnululu National Park

Purnululu National Park is a World Heritage Site in Western Australia.It was declared in 1987 ...
. A slow descent brings the visitor back to the starting point. The loop can also be done in reverse (anti-clockwise), but the National Park Rangers encourage visitors to walk in one direction.

The 22 km Giles Track connects Kings Canyon to Kathleen Springs and is popular with more adventurous hikers.

Visitor information


As with many tracks in the central Australian desert, visitors are advised to avoid walking during the middle of the day when the temperature is the highest and the sun most direct. Sunscreen
Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a lotion, spray, gel or other topical product that absorbs or reflects the sun's ultraviolet radiation and protects the skin.Sunscreens contain one or more UV filters of which there are three main types :...
, a hat, water (about 1 litre per hour at the hottest time), and a fly net (in the hotter months) are advisable but not essential.

The Kings Canyon Resort operated by Voyages 6 kilometres to the west offers camping, budget rooms, and standard hotel rooms. Kings Creek Station, 38 kilometres to the east run and owned by Ian and Lyn Conway offers alternative accommodation, and also provides camel rides and quad bike tours.

See also


  • King's Canyon Solar Power Station
    King's Canyon Solar Power Station

    King's Canyon Solar Power Station is a photovoltaic power station in the Northern Territory. It has a generating capacity of 225 kWp and produces 372,000 kWh of electricity per annum....


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