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Undara Volcanic National Park
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Undara Volcanic National Park
The Undara Volcanic National Park is a national park in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. It is situated 275 kilometres (171 mi) southwest of Cairns just off the Gulf Developmental Road. The park was established in 2009 to protect Australia's longest lava tube and the unique fauna and flora found of the area. The basalts of the area form part of the Cenozoic McBride Basalt (Volcanic) Provence. The volcanics are all less than 8 million years old (Ma) with the youngest only 7,000 years old.
The Undara Volcanic National Park is situated 437 kilometres (272 mi) northwest of Townsville and 275 kilometres (171 mi) southwest of Cairns, the two major regional centres of North Queensland. The National Park is 58 kilometres (36 mi) by road from the small town of Mount Surprise. The National Park is approximately 61,500 hectares (152,000 acres) in area. The climate is monsoonal and is generally hot and humid. It can be very wet from October to late March. The drier cooler months are April to August.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science consider much of the park dangerous for unguided visitors because of a combination of concealed holes where lava tubes have collapsed, high carbon dioxide in some of the tubes and a confusing landscape. As such visits to the tubes is by guide only. The Kalkani Crater is accessible without a guide.
Undara is an Aboriginal word for 'a long way'. The Ewamian (pronounced your-amin) Aboriginal people are the traditional owners of the national park.
European people moved into the area in the 1860s and prior the national park being declared the area was used for cattle grazing. The lava tubes were well recognised by 1891 and had unmanaged intermittent visits. Guided tours commenced in 1989.
Prior to the formation of the national park the area was owned by the Collins Family who settled in the region in 1862. The family had developed infrastructure (known now as the Undara Experience) before the park formation and they were given a special business lease to continue the tourist operation after the national park was declared.
In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Undara Volcanic National Park was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "Natural attraction". The park management plan has a focus of protecting the geological values and enhancing visitor service and facilities.
The Undara Volcanic National Park lies within the McBride Basalt (Volcanic) Province which is one of 11 discontinuous Cenozoic volcanic regions in north Queensland. The McBride Basalt Province is around 5,500 square kilometres (2,100 sq mi) in area.
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Undara Volcanic National Park
The Undara Volcanic National Park is a national park in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. It is situated 275 kilometres (171 mi) southwest of Cairns just off the Gulf Developmental Road. The park was established in 2009 to protect Australia's longest lava tube and the unique fauna and flora found of the area. The basalts of the area form part of the Cenozoic McBride Basalt (Volcanic) Provence. The volcanics are all less than 8 million years old (Ma) with the youngest only 7,000 years old.
The Undara Volcanic National Park is situated 437 kilometres (272 mi) northwest of Townsville and 275 kilometres (171 mi) southwest of Cairns, the two major regional centres of North Queensland. The National Park is 58 kilometres (36 mi) by road from the small town of Mount Surprise. The National Park is approximately 61,500 hectares (152,000 acres) in area. The climate is monsoonal and is generally hot and humid. It can be very wet from October to late March. The drier cooler months are April to August.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science consider much of the park dangerous for unguided visitors because of a combination of concealed holes where lava tubes have collapsed, high carbon dioxide in some of the tubes and a confusing landscape. As such visits to the tubes is by guide only. The Kalkani Crater is accessible without a guide.
Undara is an Aboriginal word for 'a long way'. The Ewamian (pronounced your-amin) Aboriginal people are the traditional owners of the national park.
European people moved into the area in the 1860s and prior the national park being declared the area was used for cattle grazing. The lava tubes were well recognised by 1891 and had unmanaged intermittent visits. Guided tours commenced in 1989.
Prior to the formation of the national park the area was owned by the Collins Family who settled in the region in 1862. The family had developed infrastructure (known now as the Undara Experience) before the park formation and they were given a special business lease to continue the tourist operation after the national park was declared.
In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Undara Volcanic National Park was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "Natural attraction". The park management plan has a focus of protecting the geological values and enhancing visitor service and facilities.
The Undara Volcanic National Park lies within the McBride Basalt (Volcanic) Province which is one of 11 discontinuous Cenozoic volcanic regions in north Queensland. The McBride Basalt Province is around 5,500 square kilometres (2,100 sq mi) in area.