It’s been photographed from almost every angle at every time of day in every month of the year but the iconic Uluru has rarely been captured like this.
The Rock Uluru is barely recognisable – even to grey nomads who have visited many times – in this stunning image taken in space by the Korean Kompsat-2 satellite. Viewed as it is from an altitude of 685 kilometres, the top of Uluru look as though it has been scarred by a hundred parallel cuts.
According to the ABC’s science section, the explanation is ‘relatively’ simple. Uluru is made up of coarse-grained arkose (a type of sandstone) that was laid down in horizontal layers. These layers eventually hardened, were uplifted and then tilted almost 90 degrees upwards to their present position.
The ABC says the satellite image clearly shows how these once horizontal layers now run perpendicular to the ground and appear to cut across the top of the formation.
Incidentally, Uluru didn’t always have its famous, rusty-red appearance. It would have once looked grey in colour, but millions of years of weathering of iron-bearing minerals through oxidation gave it its signature colour.
Getting up close and personal with the rock and taking photographs of the many and varied cuttings and angles around it. There is an image up high on one side of the rock that looks like a carving of a head of an Aboriginal male. There are many different photographic opportunities right around Uluru
I have seen it with a cloud mist over the top and a very wet dark colour while the rain poured over it. A very different version of the then Ayres Rock, which I climbed. We also could camp right up next to it just about.