Think you know Uluru and Kata Tjuta? Check your knowledge with these fascinating facts about the park.

How high is Uluru?

Uluru rises 348 metres above the surrounding plain. That’s higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Chrysler Building in New York or the Eureka Tower in Melbourne.

How far is it around Uluru?

If you walk right around the base of Uluru, you’ll discover the rock has a circumference of 9.4 km.

How much does Uluru weigh?

In 2018 the Northern Territory Geological Survey calculated the weight of Uluru for the ABC TV series Catalyst.

Their estimate was 1,425,000,000 tonnes – and that’s just the part above the ground!

How high is Kata Tjuta?

The tallest dome of Kata Tjuta rises 546 metres above the plain, the same height as the One World Trade Centre building in New York.

When did Uluru-Kata Tjuta become a national park?

Ayers Rock (which we now call Uluru) was first declared a national park in 1950.

In 1958, both Ayers Rock and Mount Olga (now Kata Tjuta) were excised from an Aboriginal reserve to form the Ayers Rock–Mt Olga National Park. The park’s name was changed to Uluru and Kata Tjuta (Ayers Rock–Mt Olga) National Park in 1977.

In 1985, after more than 35 years of campaigning, Anangu were recognised as the Traditional Owners of the park and handed back the deeds to their homelands.

The park was officially renamed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in 1993.

Read more about the history of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Who owns Uluru and Kata Tjuta?

Anangu own Uluru and Kata Tjuta and lease the land to the Australian Government.

Parks Australia and Anangu work together as partners, jointly managing the national park using a mix of modern science and traditional knowledge.

How long have Aboriginal people lived in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta area?

Anangu have lived and managed this country for many millennia. Archaeological evidence shows that Aboriginal people have inhabited Central Australia for more than 30,000 years.

Who were the first non-Aboriginal people to see Uluru and Kata Tjuta?

In 1872, a party led by the explorer Ernest Giles spotted Kata Tjuta during their travels through Central Australia.

The following year, explorer William Gosse became the first European to see Uluru.

Read more about the history of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Do Aboriginal people still live traditionally?

Uluru-Kata Tjtua is a living cultural landscape. Anangu are still guided by Tjukurpa (law) to keep their culture and country strong. This is something that has never changed.

If you visit Uluru you may see people dot painting, performing inma (traditional dance and song), telling Tjukurpa stories or gathering bush tucker.

Find out more about Anangu culture

Is it always hot and dry in the park?

In summer it can get really hot, with temperatures as high as 47°C during the day. But during winter the overnight temperature can drop to −7°C .

You might be surprised to learn that the park also gets around 300 mm of rainfall every year.

Find out more about our seasons

How many different types of animals live in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?

There are a lot of animal species in the park, including 21 different mammals, 73 reptiles, 178 birds and 4 desert-dwelling frogs.

Is it true that there are shrimps living at Uluru?

Sometimes. After heavy rains, small, tadpole-like crustaceans called shield shrimps (Triops australiensis) hatch in temporary waterholes and rock pools in the park.

When the water dries up, the shield shrimp eggs also dry up and can remain dormant for several years until the next big rainfall.

Shield shrimp

How many different types of plants are there in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?

There are more than 400 different plant species growing in the park. Many of these plants have traditional uses as bush foods, tools or medicine.

How many people visit Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?

Every year more than 250,000 people come from all over the world to experience the natural and cultural wonders of Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

Would you like to be one of them? Start planning your trip today!