Uluru and Kata Tjuta

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Description

Uluru and Kata Tjuta are two prominent desert landforms in central Australia. Rising high above the land, they are constantly weathered and eroded, and they change over time. This occurs due to a variety of environmental processes such as temperature changes, which causes rock to crack, and rainwater run-off, which can shape the canyons and valleys in the rock.

The traditional owners, known as Anangu, view Uluru as an ancestral creation from the beginning of time that holds spiritual value. This creation period is known as Tjukurpa (pronounced "chook-uh-pah"), which is kept alive through ceremony, song, story, art and dance. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is jointly managed by Anangu and the Australian government and is recognised as a World Heritage Site for its unique natural and cultural values.

Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.