How tall is Uluru?
Uluru rises about 348 metres above the surrounding plain, and its summit is about 863 metres above sea level. The huge sandstone monolith stands in the heart of Central Australia.
Uluru is about 3.6 kilometres long and 1.9 kilometres wide, with a circumference of about 9.4 kilometres. Like an iceberg, much of the rock lies hidden below ground.
It is made of arkose, a coarse sandstone rich in feldspar. Iron in the rock rusts on the surface, giving Uluru its red colour, which changes dramatically at sunrise and sunset.
A sacred place
Uluru is sacred to the Anangu, the Traditional Owners. The land was handed back to them in 1985, and the park is jointly managed with Parks Australia.
Climbing Uluru was permanently banned from 26 October 2019, out of respect for Anangu law and for safety. The 10-kilometre base walk circles the rock.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a dual World Heritage Area, listed for both natural and cultural values.
Did You Know?
Uluru was named Ayers Rock in 1873 by surveyor William Gosse, after Sir Henry Ayers, Chief Secretary of South Australia.