This post deviates from the general theme of 3D printing and software curiosities. It is ‘ancient’ history from an old travel blog I was writing while traveling around Australia.
On the trip from Meekatharra to Broome, we stopped and camped a night in the Karijini National Park. The place was amazing! It was refreshing to see trees and hills after spending three months in the flat expanse that surrounds Meekatharra. But comparing Karijini with the Meekatharra rangelands really doesn’t do the place justice.
The whole place is forged from brutally hard iron ore; it looked like cataclysmic forces had shoved big chunks of rusted steel out of the ground. Then, erosion over the eons has weathered a gorge into the chunks; leaving these awesome iron pontoons, with large cracks and crevices slicing between. The ground and cliffs were all extremely hot after being baked all day in the hot Pilbara sun. Fortunately waterfalls pour water into the gorge, naturally cooling the bottom, providing the perfect environment for a wide variety trees, marsupials and birds… The perfect setting for some of the best swimming holes in the country.
We hiked down a goat track and followed the water to a swimming hole; it was packed by a bunch of people seeking similar refuge from the heat! So we turned around and hiked back out again, heading towards the top of the waterfalls. These waterfalls reminded me of the pink and white terraces in Rotorua, New Zealand. Well pictures of them at least, I wasn’t around in the early 1880’s; the big difference being that the Karijini terraces are formed from the same giant pontoon slabs of iron as everything else in the area. We continued along the track into thick cool vegetation and found the perfect little swimming hole. We paddled around for a while, until we tired of the little fishes nibbling at our legs. It was time for a feed and a rest.
On the following day when we headed out on the big drive to Broome, we passed through some more amazing country, at one point it looked as though we had just driven onto the set of a road runner cartoon. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any emus; I think that would have made my day.
Comments:
You can join the conversation on Twitter or Instagram
Become a Patreon to get early and behind-the-scenes access along with email notifications for each new post.
Hi! Subconsciously you already know this, but let's make it obvious. Hopefully this article was helpful. You might also find yourself following a link to Amazon to learn more about parts or equipment. If you end up placing an order, I make a couple of dollarydoos. We aren't talking a rapper lifestyle of supercars and yachts, but it does help pay for the stuff you see here. So to everyone that supports this place - thank you.