What type of rock formation is uluru

These rocks were later tilted from their original horizontal orientation by powerful tectonic forces. Views from above now clearly show the hundreds of originally flat-lying layers that make up Uluru. Softer and younger sedimentary rocks were then eroded away, leaving the more resistant rocks exposed to form the present-day landforms. Uluru is thought by native peoples to have been created by ancestral beings during the Dreamtime , which has been described as the essence of aboriginal culture and spirituality.

Ancient paintings throughout its caves and fissures describe this relationship, keeping Dreamtime traditions alive. The proximity of the Mutitjulu settlement to the rock symbolizes the spiritual connection between the local people and Uluru.

The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 49 crew. Uluru and the nearby Kata Tjuta are millions of years old. According to geologists, the monolith and its surroundings started to form around million years ago. At this time, the Peterman Ranges to the west of Kata Tjuta were much taller than they are now. Because of their elevated height, excess rainwater began to seep down the mountains, eroding the soft rock as it went.

Over time, the water erosion created two big fan shapes that spanned the plains; one that was rocky in formation, and the other made of sand. Around million years ago, the area was taken over by the sea. The sand and mud sank to the bottom of the ocean and created a layer on top of the sea bed. The Northern Territory Government has implemented a number of health directions to keep the community safe.

It is important to comply with the current travel restrictions and to use the Territory Check-In app to register at visitor sites in the park. Read more. Back then, the Petermann Ranges to the west of Kata Tju t a were much taller than they are now. Rainwater flowed down the mountains, eroding sand and rock and dropping it in big fan shapes on the plains. One fan was mainly water-smoothed rock while the other was mostly sand.

Around million years ago, the whole area became covered in sea. Sand and mud fell to the bottom and covered the seabed, including these fans.

The weight of the new seabed turned the fans into rock. The sandy fan became sandstone Ulu r u while the rocky fan became conglomerate rock Kata Tju t a.

Kata Tju t a tilted slightly and Ulu r u tilted 90 degrees. Over the last million years, the softer rocks eroded away, leaving the spectacular forms of Ulu r u and Kata Tju t a behind.