Day 116: Wilpena Pound

This morning we left at 8am on our tag-along trip into the mountains. It was terrific - we followed a troop carrier with a guide who gave a non-stop commentary about the ranges. The 4x4 driving was not difficult but some of the grades were very steep and high. I'm glad Doug was driving so I could take in the scenery.

I've included some of the photos below from the trip. The emu photos were taken five metres from our caravan after we returned from the trip.

What is Wilpena Pound - one of the most spectacular natural formations you will see, but unfortunately to see it properly you must either go on a day-long hike over moderately difficult terrain or see it from the air.
We are thinking about going on a flight on Thursday after we have seen most of the other things around here - gorges, lookouts, etc.
Wilpena Pound looks like the remains of a volcano or where a meteorite hit - it is neither - it is sedimentary rock which has been uplifted by mother nature and is still being uplifted today. Although it looks like one oval crater, it is in fact two ranges beside each other. I have included a photo below from the net to show you what Wilpena Pound looks like - it is not my photograph! Maybe Thursday.
The word 'Wilpena' is apparently an aboriginal word and it was called a 'Pound' as the original settlers said it would be a good place to hold animals - a natural pound.