Australia, Blue Mountains in New South Wales: description, reviews

This article introduces readers to one of the most remarkable and beautiful national parks of exotic Australia, which have a very important global significance. New South Wales is a magnificent sight, created by nature. Located on the border of the city line of Sydney (Australia).

Blue Mountains: general information

From the magnificent hills, covered with wood, an unimaginably beautiful and exotic, breathtaking view of the rocks and valleys opens. Here, any traveler can make an easy walk through the forest, imprinting amazing landscapes of the surrounding nature, or arrange for themselves a real adventure.

This national park is in a state called New South Wales, located 100 kilometers from Sydney to the west. The height of some rocks is 1190 meters, and the gorges have depths of up to 760 meters.

Every year more than 3 million people visit this park. The most popular rock is called the Three Sisters. Many romantic and fearless travelers come here to go horse riding in the magnificent spacious valleys, climbing the mountains, hiking with survival lessons in the bush and in the caves of Kanangra Park. And all this is offered by the amazing Blue Mountains.

The Great Dividing Range has placed this most remarkable corner of Australia on its territory.

Location and description of the mountains

This vast mountainous area of about 1400 square meters. Km is located from Sydney in a half to two hours drive.

The notion of "mountain" in many is associated with snowy giant peaks, but the Blue Mountains are relatively low and represent hills. Victoria (the highest mountain) rises at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level, and snow lies on it for only 5 months a year.

And yet, like all of Australia, the Blue Mountains have their own unique charm and attract the attention of a huge number of tourists from many countries. And the inhabitants of Sydney, practically all their weekends spend in these wonderful places.

The National Park "Blue Mountains" (Australia) covers an area of more than 1 million hectares. These are hard-to-reach canyons and many kilometers of rocky ridge, intersected by valleys, streams with amazing crystal clear water.

origin of name

The name of their mountains was obtained thanks to the characteristic blue for this area, almost always hanging in the air. It is because of it that the eucalyptus hills, which are visible in the distance, seem bright ultramarine.

The eucalyptus tree is the most common (almost unique) tree-like vegetation in Australia. Previously, such a forest covered almost the entire territory of this continent, until it was not cut down by farmers to free land for economic activities.

Mountains (unsuitable territories for processing) have been preserved by eucalyptus forests. All the air here is impregnated with particles of oil from this vegetation, which, in combination with dust and steam, scatter mostly blue rays (shortwave).

So these mountains became blue because of the presence of a haze over them. Since eucalyptus forests are found everywhere in Australia, such a name might well have other peaks. And yet they are the only blue mountains on earth (Australia).

How to get there?

Before this unique place can be reached by car. For 1.5 hours from the Central Station of the Australian capital, trains will be delivered to the place. Thus, it is possible to make even a 1-day walk with a return the same way to Sydney.

Climate

Moderate climate reigns almost throughout the mainland Australia. Blue mountains are not an exception. The temperature in winter (from June to August) in the highlands is about 5 degrees, and in the summer (from December to February) - about 18 degrees. A little lower the air warms up to 16 and 29 degrees, respectively, in the winter and summer seasons.

Throughout Australia, rains are about the same frequency. Snow falls only in the highlands, although often in the morning you can often see frost in low places.

It is quite a comfortable climate for recreation and life.

A bit of history

Due to the inaccessibility of the relief, the Blue Mountains for researchers represented an impenetrable barrier. Everything began in 1770. At that time, for the first time in history, Captain Cook landed on the coast of a new undiscovered continent, but the passage deeper into the forest was impossible.

Only in 1813, a small expedition headed by Gregory Blaxland, William Charles Wentworth and Lieutenant Lawson, was the first to cross the inaccessible mountain so-called now Great Dividing Range. 7 people (researchers, servants), 4 horses and 5 dogs moved into a difficult path in May 1813.

It was a very difficult trip due to insufficient equipment and a small supply of provisions. They were pursued by both diseases and attacks by Aborigines. Overcoming the whole burden of the campaign, after 18 days, the research scientists crossed the mountains and went out to the valley.

Preserved and still notches on the tree (west of Katoomba), made by the heroes of the pioneers. Their names are immortalized in the names of peaks and some settlements.

Further development of the territory

After successful completion of the expedition, extensive development of the territory began.

Engineer William Cox in 1814 began to build roads that go through the Blue Mountains. The builders were 30 prisoners, guarded by 8 employees. In just six months, a 100-mile-long road was built, thanks to which in April 1815 the first trip was made by Governor Makvori. They were based in these places several military posts to protect against all sorts of attacks by Aboriginal people.

In the 1850s experienced a real "gold rush" Australia. The blue mountains have lost their habitual peace. With the discovery of gold veins, the streams of adventurers poured into these territories. During this period, the Chinese emigration increased. In connection with the growing number of buyers, they began to come to trade.

In 1867, the first railway from Sydney to the Ventworf waterfalls was built.

The economic development of Australia was facilitated by the discovery of a coal deposit in 1879 in Katoomba (from the name of an Aboriginal tribe who lived here in ancient times). Immediately there was a small town, today it is the main tourist attraction of the Blue Mountains. Here is the famous summit of Three Sisters.

Legend

A huge number of tourists are attracted to the Blue Mountains (Australia). Excursion to the Rock Three Sisters plays a special role when viewing all the sights. It is connected with a rather interesting legend.

In former times, three sisters-three surprisingly beautiful Aboriginal girls-lived in the Katoomba tribe. They were called Mikhni, Wimla and Ganneda. They had a sorcerer father. It so happened that they all fell in love with three brothers from a nearby tribe of Nepin. Then there were laws that forbade marrying young men from other tribes.

And so the brothers decided to gather their compatriots and declare war on the Katoomba tribe to seize the girls by force. A brutal battle occurred between the troops of the two tribes, and luck was on the side of the troops of Nepin. The brothers were almost jubilant in anticipation of their victory, but fate turned completely different.

Just before the battle, the father of three sisters, wishing to save his daughters from military consequences, led them to the very top of the mountain and turned them into 3 rocks. He hoped to restore their former appearance after the war, but the sorcerer died on the battlefield.

Since then, no one has been able to spoil the three sisters. These 3 rocks (with the names of Michni, Wimla and Ganneda) are still waiting for their savior to turn into charming aboriginal people again.

Finally

Fabulously beautiful all, like the Blue Mountains, Australia. Reviews of travelers who have visited these unimaginably beautiful places, only positive and enthusiastic. Both nature, and flora and fauna amaze the imagination of tourists with an unprecedented fairy-tale and beauty.

It should be noted that the Blue Mountains region is included in the UNESCO list. The site includes 8 protected areas, the main value of which is that they personally demonstrate the development and wide diversity of eucalyptus forests in Australia.