U Is for Uluru/Ayers Rock

 

U is for Uluru/Ayers Rock

For most of the  A to Z Bloggers the April Challenge has ended, but Buttercupland is bringing up the rear. We're posting about U -- Uluru -- today and we'll posting "Z" tomorrow and a giveaway. 

Uluru is a sandstone monolith, near the center of Australia in the Southern part of the Northern Territory. This extraordinary site, sacred to the Aboriginal people of the area, the Anangu. It is a World Heritage site and one of the most recognized natural landmarks of Australia. 

Uluru by day

When I was planning my trip to Australia (2018) I wanted to make sure that Uluru was one of the stops on the itinerary. It's not a quick trip. Australia is a big, big country and Uluru is in the center of a country that's larger than the United States (by 1%). My group flew to Alice Springs and then drove the 208 miles to Uluru. It was a fascinating drive with scenery that was awesome and the biggest, fluffiest clouds ever. 

The site was first named Ayers Rock in 1873 after the then Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. In 1993 a dual naming policy was established that allowed Aboriginal names to be added to established names and in 2002 Uluru/Ayers Rock became the official name. 

Sunset at Uluru

 

 I'm not quite sure where April went. One day we were starting out with A Is for Alaska and in the blink of an eye we're about to visit "Z." In the interim the flowers and trees have bloomed and Passover was celebrated. I've been part of two major celebrations, a wonderful family wedding and an 80th birthday celebration. And next week, after a year of looking forward, we're off to Africa. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and have a terrific Thursday.