Threats To Devils Marbles

The outback australia travel guide a guide to the real australian outback.

Threats to devils marbles.

The devils marbles conservation reserve is located 110 km south of tennant creek in the northern territory of australia. In other words in the middle of nowhere. Instead the man could. The devils marbles are a collection of massive granite boulders strewn across a valley south of tennant creek.

The devils marbles are called karlu karlu in alyawarre pronounced al yow worrah a local aboriginal language. In a historic ceremony held here on 27 october 2008 ownership of the karlu karlu devils marbles conservation reserve was officially given back to the site s traditional owners. It s the meeting place of four different language groups. However human beings present a unique external threat.

Aboriginal elders say a tradesman filmed defecating on the renowned devils marbles rock formation in the northern territory would have been speared in the leg in the past. The formation of devils marbles commenced millions of years ago when chemical mechanical weathering due to certain natural agents resulted in the erosion of granite and the surrounding sandstone layer. Naturally the area has few threats since it is practically in the middle of nowhere. If you travel far enough through australia s red centre you ll eventually come upon the devils marbles conservation reserve more widely known as devils marbles although the closest civilisation to the marbles is wauchope which is 9 kilometres south but realistically it s 393 kilometres north of alice springs or 760 kilometres south of katherine that makes it pretty much in the.

Tourism at the devils marbles. Standing at up to 6 metres high and formed over millions of years they continue to crack. This name is shared by the kaytete warumungu warlpiri and alyawarra traditional owners of the area. Camping is available on site and pit toilets are provided controlled fires are allowed and campsite spaces are given to first in bet dressed in dry season.

Traditional owners ask that the karlu marbles are not climbed. Around 10000 tourists visit the devils marbles each year most people visiting are from around the globe including many from asian and european countries. Alyawarre kayteye warumunga and warlpiri people also have spiritual connections and responsibilities. Of course i cover those as well.

The protection afforded to the site is partly due to its significance to the local tribes. Never heard of tennant creek. Ok the devils marbles are 393 km north of alice springs and 760 km south of katherine. That s why the guide covers a lot more than the usual tourist attractions in outback australia.

However the area is not just significant to alyawarre people.