Read the text about Uluru, in central Australia.

Uluru is a stunning natural landmark. This giant sandstone formation, which was also named Ayers Rock by white explorers, lies in the Northern Territory. Geologists believe Uluru is about 550 million years old. Like an island mountain, it rises more than 300 metres above the flat desert surrounding it. It is one of the most famous landmarks in Australia. It is also a place that holds great meaning for the Indigenous Anangu people who have lived there for thousands of years.

Visitors to Uluru are asked to respect its importance to the Anangu people. The Anangu believe that their ancestors were spirit people who created Uluru and all its features. According to traditional thinking, the rock shapes, caves and cliffs are remnants of their ancestors’ time on Earth, called the ‘Dreamtime’. The Anangu believe that the rocks themselves, along with the paintings and carvings on the rocks, are what have been left behind to tell the legends and lessons of their ancestors.

Because of Uluru’s importance to the Anangu people, climbing it is no longer allowed. Taking pictures of certain places that the Anangu prefer to keep hidden is also discouraged. However, people are welcome to explore. Visitors can walk the nearly ten-kilometre path around the base of the rock. Guides can point out Indigenous plants and animals, such as wild fig trees and red kangaroos. Many people come at dawn or sunset to experience the stunning way the rock turns deep orange and fiery red as the light changes.