It is the world's largest monolith rising 318m above the desert floor with a circumference of 8km. It is consideredonce of the great wonders of the world. It is located in the Kata Tjuta National park which is owned and run by the local Aboriginals. The Australian government handed ownership of the land back to the Aboriginals some years ago The Rock is arkose, a course-grained sandstone rich in feldspar at least 2.5 km thick Uplifting and folding between 400-300 mya turned the sedimentary layers nearly 90 degrees to their present position. The surface has then been eroded Depending on the time of day and the atmospheric conditions the rock dramatically change colour, anything from blue to glowing red Many photographers set up for days and record the many changing colors of Uluru yers Rock was named for the Premier of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. It extends down over 3 and a half miles beneath the surface 5. Australian flora and fauna: Golden Wattle Golden Wattle is the floral emblem of australia and is a shrub or small tree out 4 to 8 metres tall. After the seed ling stage. true leaves are absent. their function being performed by phyllodes which are modified flattened leaf stalks lacking leaf blades. The leathery phyllodes are 6 to 20 cm long, broadly lance or sickle-shaped and bright green in colour. In spring large fluffy golden-yellow flower-heads with up to eighty minute sweetly scented flowers provide a vivid contrast with the foliage. The dark brown mature fruit, 7 to 12 cm long, spl its along ne side to rele The largest bird in Austral ia, and second only to the Ostrich of Africa for the world title, the Emu is found across most of mainland Australia. They are huge flightless birds, which can stand up to 1.9 metres tall and weigh up to 50 kilograms Populations of emus have disappeared from the eastern seaboard of Australia and from Tasmania. Two closely related species from King Island and Kangaroo Island have also disappeared. The reduction in numbers being due to the result of overhunting by early European colonists Emus occur in a wide variety of habitats. These include arid deserts, tropical wood lands, temperate grasslands, even to snowline in the Southern Highlands Distribution is controlled by the availability of water which emus need daily access to. Emus eat mostly plant fibre material such as seeds, fruits, newly emerged shoots and tips from grasses and shrubs, and insects when locally available. The stomach is developed to ferment plant fibre to extract the most energy from the tough, wood y material. Emus are typically solitary or gather in small family units. Female emus remain with the male until she has completed laying the clutch of nine dark green eggs. Up to 24 eggs have been found in one nest. Incubation is by the male only who will commence when the last egg is laid. This means that all the chicks develop andIt is the world's largest monolith rising 318m above the desert floor with a circumference of 8km. It is consideredonce of the great wonders of the world. It is located in the Kata Tjuta National Park which is owned and run by the local Aboriginals. The Australian government handed ownership of the land back to the Aboriginals some years ago. The Rock is arkose, a course-grained sandstone rich in feldspar at least 2.5 km thick. Uplifting and folding between 400-300 mya turned the sedimentary layers nearly 90 degrees to their present position. The surface has then been eroded. Depending on the time of day and the atmospheric conditions the rock can dramatically change colour, anything from blue to glowing red ! Many avid photographers set up for days and record the many changing colors of Uluru. Ayers Rock was named for the Premier of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. It extends down over 3 and a half miles beneath the surface. 5. Australian Flora and Fauna: Golden Wattle The Golden Wattle is the Floral Emblem of Australia and is a shrub or small tree about 4 to 8 metres tall. After the seedling stage, true leaves are absent, their function being performed by phyllodes which are modified flattened leaf stalks lacking leaf blades. The leathery phyllodes are 6 to 20 cm long, broadly lance or sickle-shaped and bright green in colour. In spring large fluffy golden-yellow flower-heads with up to eighty minute sweetly scented flowers provide a vivid contrast with the foliage. The dark brown mature fruit, 7 to 12 cm long, splits along one side to release the seeds. Emu The largest bird in Australia, and second only to the Ostrich of Africa for the world title, the Emu is found across most of mainland Australia. They are huge flightless birds, which can stand up to 1.9 metres tall and weigh up to 50 kilograms. Populations of emus have disappeared from the eastern seaboard of Australia and from Tasmania. Two closely related species from King Island and Kangaroo Island have also disappeared. The reduction in numbers being due to the result of overhunting by early European colonists. Emus occur in a wide variety of habitats. These include arid deserts, tropical woodlands, temperate grasslands, even to snowline in the Southern Highlands. Distribution is controlled by the availability of water which emus need daily access to. Emus eat mostly plant fibre material such as seeds, fruits, newly emerged shoots and tips from grasses and shrubs, and insects when locally available. The stomach is developed to ferment plant fibre to extract the most energy from the tough, woody material. Emus are typically solitary or gather in small family units. Female emus remain with the male until she has completed laying the clutch of nine dark green eggs. Up to 24 eggs have been found in one nest. Incubation is by the male only who will commence when the last egg is laid. This means that all the chicks develop and