In the vast savannah of Australia’s North Queensland , 300 km southwest from the metropolis of Cairns , lies the Undara Volcanic National Park where y'all volition honour but about of the largest together with longest lava tubes on the planet.
The Undara lava tubes were formed inwards a massive eruption that occurred well-nigh 190 ,000 years agone causing lava to time period to a greater extent than than xc km to the due north together with over 160 km to the north-west. During this fiery episode , 23 billion cubic liters of lava was estimated to accept spewed forth from the Undara Volcano onto the surrounding Atherton Tableland. As the lava flowed , the outer-layer cooled together with formed a crust , patch the molten lava below drained outwards , leaving behind a serial of hollow tubes. The roofs of but about of the tubes accept collapsed , allowing vegetation to flourish inwards the damp interiors together with shelter wildlife.
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Many of these lava tubes accept high levels of carbon dioxide—up to vi per cent or 200 times greater than normal levels. This has created a habitat where alone particularly adapted animals tin survive. The Bayliss Cave contains at to the lowest degree 52 resident species of animals , including the most various assemblages of arthropods recorded inwards whatever cave inwards North Queensland.
The surface area where Undara Volcanic National Park is located was traditionally nation of the Ewamian Aboriginal people , who lived together with hunted inwards this surface area earlier the arrival of Europeans. Stone artefacts together with scarred trees associated amongst caves , vine-thickets together with springs even together with then render prove of their occupation.
Photo credit: Jane Farquhar/Wikimedia
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Photo credit: www.undara.com.au
Photo credit: www.undara.com.au
Sources: www.npsr.qld.gov.au