Napier Range
Encyclopedia
The Napier Ranges are located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia
. The range is south of and runs parallel to the King Leopold Range.
They feature the impressive Windjana Gorge
and Tunnel Creek
and Geikie Gorge that were formed over 350 million years ago as part of a limestone reef.
The Fitzroy River
cuts through the range at Geikie Gorge
, while the Lennard River
is responsible for the formation of Windjana Gorge. The Barker River
also carved Barker gorge through the range.
The highest point in the Napier Range is Mount Behm that is 325 metres (1,066 ft) above sea level.
The ranges were made famous by Pigeon
(Jandamarra
- tribal name) who was the subject of a massive police hunt and caused the construction of the Lillimilura police outpost which is on the southern side of the ranges approximately four kilometres from Windjana.
Some small deposits of copper
and lead
have been discovered in the Range but no active mine sites exist within the area.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The range is south of and runs parallel to the King Leopold Range.
They feature the impressive Windjana Gorge
Windjana Gorge
Windjana Gorge is a gorge in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is located at , within the Windjana Gorge National Park.The gorge was formed by the Lennard River having eroded away a section of the Napier Range...
and Tunnel Creek
Tunnel Creek
Tunnel Creek is a creek located within the grounds of Tunnel Creek National Park in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. Along with Geikie Gorge and Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek is part of an ancient barrier reef that developed during the Devonian Period...
and Geikie Gorge that were formed over 350 million years ago as part of a limestone reef.
The Fitzroy River
Fitzroy River (Western Australia)
The Fitzroy River is located in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia.-Discovery:The Fitzroy River was discovered by the West in 1837 by George Grey in the H.M.S. Beagle. The river was subsequently named by Lt J L Stokes on 26/2/1838 after Captain Robert FitzRoy R.N...
cuts through the range at Geikie Gorge
Geikie Gorge
Geikie Gorge is a feature of the Napier Range and is located within the grounds of Geikie Gorge National Park, 20 km from Fitzroy Crossing, 1831 km northeast of Perth and 420 km east of Broome in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia...
, while the Lennard River
Lennard River
Lennard River is a river in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.The river rises below the King Leopold Ranges and flows in a westerly direction through the Lennard River Gorge and the Windjana Gorge before merging with the Meda River....
is responsible for the formation of Windjana Gorge. The Barker River
Barker River
The Barker River is a river in the Kimberley of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise North of Mount Matthew and then flow in southerly direction through Barker Gorge and then discharge into the Lennard River of which it is a tributary....
also carved Barker gorge through the range.
The highest point in the Napier Range is Mount Behm that is 325 metres (1,066 ft) above sea level.
The ranges were made famous by Pigeon
Jandamarra
Jandamarra or Tjandamurra , also known as "Pigeon", was an Indigenous Australian of the Bunuba people who led one of the few organised armed insurrections documented against European settlement in Australia.- Background :...
(Jandamarra
Jandamarra
Jandamarra or Tjandamurra , also known as "Pigeon", was an Indigenous Australian of the Bunuba people who led one of the few organised armed insurrections documented against European settlement in Australia.- Background :...
- tribal name) who was the subject of a massive police hunt and caused the construction of the Lillimilura police outpost which is on the southern side of the ranges approximately four kilometres from Windjana.
Some small deposits of copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
and lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
have been discovered in the Range but no active mine sites exist within the area.