58 Australian Geographic
Captured by my UAV, Kings Canyon in Watarrka is
a slice through that geological history, where the more
ancient red-brown Carmichael sandstone of the ocean
floor lies below white Mereenie sandstone.
The canyon is also a sacred Aboriginal site where
walking off-track is discouraged, making the UAV
particularly useful. About 350 million years ago,
incredible forces pushed up the MacDonnell Ranges,
but the pressure was less intense at Kings Canyon,
which formed along a crack in the sandstone. The
canyon walls have the most beautiful colours and rise
100–150m above Kings Creek below.
There is a surprising amount of plant and animal
life here, and the key to this again lies in the geology.
The upper Mereenie layer is porous and collects water
that is trapped by a layer of shale between it and the
Carmichael sandstone below. It supports the canyon’s
aptly named Garden of Eden – an oasis that taps into
the stored water and provides sanctuary for wildlife,
including nankeen kestrels and centralian tree frogs.
Winds that blow across the top of the canyon produce
surprisingly strong downdrafts, so flying the UAV
above the Garden is an exhilarating experience.
At the southern end of the basin, Uluru and Kata
Tjuta were formed from the erosion of mountains.Uluru is composed of arkose, granite-rich sandstone
created in more ancient mountain ranges that extend
for up to 3km underground. Kata Tjuta is a conglom-
erate mixture of sediments and extends for up to 5km
below the surface. As you walk around both of these
remarkable inselbergs, you realise how many of the
features, such as the caves, valleys, canyons and pools,
are due to water erosion.
Seeing the Red Centre’s astonishing landmarks from
above makes you realise just how much water has played
a role in shaping them. Erosion has formed beautiful
shapes flowing out of the region’s canyons and gorges,
and down the soaring walls of Tnorola. And the best
time to experience them is when they are bathed in
early morning or late afternoon light, as the sun’s rays
pass across the surface of the Earth, scattering the blue
light and making the red light more intense. In the Red
Centre, dust in the atmosphere only adds to this, mak-
ing the warm afternoon light even more striking.FIND more spectacular aerial images online, at:
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/issue130AGAUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC thanks Glen Helen Home-
stead, NT Parks and Wildlife and DJI and for their assistance.The Red Centre Way is a collection of outback roads covering a total of
nearly 800km between Alice Springs and Uluru-Kata Tjuta NP, via the
MacDonnell Ranges. A 4WD is recommended for comfort on unsealed
sections. Check the road conditions before departing Alice Springs.
THE RED CENTRE WAY