The Devils Marbles are enormous, granite boulders that formed 1,500 million years ago as the exposed top layer of an extensive and partly underground granite formation.The Devils Marbles are a beautiful sight and are an ideal tourist attraction. The conservation reserves are also home to several rare and threatened species including the eastern quoll, the spotted-tail quoll, the northern hairy-nosed wombat, and the yellow-footed antechinus.This reserve is one of the better sites that highlights the effects of glaciation on the surface of the Earth. Read more Devils Marbles facts here.Facts About The Devils MarblesThere are many amazing facts about the Devils Marbles. Have a look at some of them here.The reserve is made up of an area of 6.95 sq mi (18.02 sq km) of land, some of it in the north of South Australia.There are more than two Devils Marbles! All Australian Outback guidebooks and brochures include a photograph of these stunning rock formations.The reserve is home to native plants, animals, and communities.Karlu Karlu or the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve is a living cultural crossroad in the Northern Territory and has always been inhabited exclusively by the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarre, and Warlpiri indigenous people.Karlu Karlu is a collection of gigantic, rounded boulders found in Australia, many of which have been painstakingly balanced on top of one another by nature.Karlu Karlu is a recognized site of both cultural and natural significance. It became a jointly managed site in 2009 as a result of collaborative conservation efforts made by government representatives and the Department of Parks and Wildlife Service.The name ‘Devils Marbles’ came from a comment made by engineer John Ross, during the construction of Australia’s Overland Telegraph Line in 1870.In October 1961, the region was first designated as the Devils Marbles Reserve.Under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, the park’s name was changed to Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve on September 21, 1979.In the ’80s, it was registered on a register that listed conservation areas.The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority put the entire reserve on a holy site list in 1982.Karlu Karlu, commonly known as the Devils Marbles, was legally returned to its rightful Aboriginal owners in Australia in 2008.Under a 99-year lease, the reserve was returned to the park’s care. Rangers and traditional owners work together to maintain the site, which has had no detrimental influence on tourist access to this Protected Area for Indigenous People.Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve was named in 2011 to reflect the reserve’s dual administration system.In 2007, there were approximately 96,000 visits to national parks. By 2012, this figure had increased to more than 137,000 total visitors.The peak season occurs from May to August when the temperatures are cooler.The reserve is a major tourist attraction in the Barkly region and also just off the Stuart Highway, which connects Darwin and Alice Springs as well as other regions south of there.Devils Marbles Geographical FactsIn Australia’s Northern Territory, the Devils Marbles are a renowned tourist attraction. The crater is located in the south of the park and is a protected area of the Northern Territory.It is in the Murray Mallee, a region that has suffered from decades of poor land management.The Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve is located near the town of Glen Helen in Central Queensland, Australia. It is a world heritage listed site.This park is located around 244 mi (393 km) north of Alice Springs and 65 mi (105 km) south of Tennant Creek.Wauchope, 5.6 mi (9 km) to the south, is the nearest settlement, with petrol and minimal supplies.A small access road runs straight into the boulder field, just off the Stuart Highway.The Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve is among the most frequented reserves in the Northern Territory and is widely acknowledged as the most widely recognized icon of Australia’s outback.Devils Marbles’ SignificanceAlmost the entire reserve is a registered sacred site, so there are many stories and traditions associated with the land. No visible cultural sites have been affected by the project. Read on to find out about the significance of the Devils Marbles.The Devils Marbles were produced by a molten lava outburst that cooled and crystallized underground while being covered by a layer of sandstone.Over time, vertical cracks in the sandstone caused water to infiltrate into it.The saltiness of the water broke down the sandstone and then later seeped into cracks in the granite as well, separating both stones from each other.As a result, round, granite boulders perched on top of each other have been revealed.The granite rock formations that dot the landscape produce a variety of smaller settings in which more delicate plants, such as the native rock fig, can thrive.On occasion, the smaller black-headed goanna (Varanus tristis) is seen lurking in the rocky outcrops, while the larger sand goanna (Varanus gouldii) is at times more often found hiding between the clumps of spinifex.Flocks of birds including zebra finches, painted finches, and other bird species can often be found in the garden as part of the native, Australian outback wildlife.Weathering and erosion have shaped the boulders into a variety of shapes.Local Aboriginal people claim that the large, round boulders are the eggs of the mythological Rainbow Serpent, which is largely believed to be false.In reality, much of outback Australia, from the traditional owners’ stories, mention Karlu Karlu when referencing a setting.Karlu Karlu is a sacred site, devil’s country, to the aboriginal culture.According to legend, Arrange, the Devil Man walked through the region on foot. He dropped numerous clumps of hair on the ground while strolling through the woods and field nearby, producing a hair string belt.Devils Marbles’ HikeA simple, tranquil camping area is available at the southern end of the bush reserve. Reservations can be made at the Visitor Center, which is located inside the main gate.This consists of a sheltered picnic area with fireplaces as well as BBQ plates and pit toilets.Please be informed that there is no running water or firewood accessible, but you are welcome to gather anything you require.Camping at the lake is a lot of fun, as long you do it where it’s designated! Make sure to camp in a designated area otherwise you may end up having to pay a hefty fine (and risk putting your life in danger). You can even attend a historic ceremony at the reserve.There are 10 walks to enjoy in Nyanjiki Natural Forest Reserve.The Nyanjiki Lookout walk provides a panoramic view at the Reserve with an outlook over much of the unique vegetation present in the area, including steep forested ravines and flat, grassy moorlands.The Karlu Karluwalk is a very popular walk that can be traveled in 20 minutes and takes you from the day-use area to a lookout point.Signs along the way share knowledge about the formation of the Karlu (Marbles).The 2.5 mi (4 km) Nurrku Walk provides visitors with a more extended opportunity to experience the reserve.Download the Avenza Maps app on your device to find a free territory parks map, for as long as you’re still in range!Once you’ve downloaded this map, it will be accessible offline. Its GPS capabilities will update your position within the park directly onto the map.These GPS-enabled maps are a must when exploring large chunks of an unfamiliar city or area and they can be enjoyed offline. All that’s required to access them is a single click.Rangers offer an amazing program in which they offer live events and official walks at the site for some time between May and September each year in the Northern Territory.
The Devils Marbles are enormous, granite boulders that formed 1,500 million years ago as the exposed top layer of an extensive and partly underground granite formation.
