Flight to Purnululu National Park

April 23. Flight to Purnululu National Park

Pickup at 0830 for flight over the Bungle Bungle Range to Purnululu National Park. We are 12 in the group and the plane, a Cessna Grand Caravan, took 14th including the pilot. A passenger who did not belong to our group came along. All were placed by weight heaviest forward and lighter/ less heavy backwards. Raoul have been hesitant if he was to go along, as he does not like being trapped in aircraft. When everyone else got their seat Raoul was without. He had to take the second pilot's seat. Photographed as much as I could but couldn't shoot properly.

The flight went into hooks so everyone could see what was there to look at. First, the dam that is the cause of Lake Argyle. Then the lake itself formed. It's really amazing how it was possible to build a short but high dam wall and get such a big lake. The dam wall is built higher than the various overflows that exist in other places so as not to damage the dam when the water level becomes too high. The dam was filled at 2.5 years instead of the estimated time of several years. It was a lot of rain in those years. In 2011, there was so much rain that the wastewater road was about to flood. The dam is approximately 1000 square kilometres at the 30% level, then holds 5.6 cubic kilometres. At maximum level, it covers 2000 square kilometres. It can hold 35 cubic kilometres.

_{The passengers in plane.
The Argyle lake dam wall.}

This whole area of sandstone mountains was formed over 350 million years ago. The mountains are like striped of different layers. The dark grey bands consist of blue-green algae. The orange portions have iron oxide protection over the sandstone. Therefore, it looks quite rusty. Bungle Bungle is of great importance to Aboriginal culture.

_{The irrigation canal from Ord river.
Part of the Argyle Lake.}

The destination of the flight was the Purnululu National Park. Once down on the ground we took a 4wd bus to a place where we started a short hike. We had two guides one of which is indigenous. We also got lunch bag with us. Cecilia walked with rods. The sticks were good to have in the sand. It is very heavy to walk in sand.

These mountains are incredibly beautiful and you feel quite small. We walked a couple of kilometres in fairly mixed terrain and not quite easy. Also, the flies were quite troublesome. Eventually we came to a cave very large where we ate our lunch. It was a huge crack that widened at the bottom so that there is a space with "roof". Cool and nice after a hike in the flight-proof and warm weather, at least 37 degrees and sun. An amazing echo there.

_{Cathedral Gorge Purnululu National Park.
The beehive shaped sandstone cones.}

Eventually we went back to the bus which took us to a Lodge that was built out here. There are overnight accommodations in a fairly luxurious design. However, we would only have some iced tea and fruit. We became little frustrated due to nothing more to see when the fruit was consumed. Back to the airport where the pilot was waiting for us. He is good at telling, so the one-hour long journey home went pretty fast. He told us, among other things, that in Lake Argyle we passed there are about 35,000 crocodiles. Freshwater types!

We flew over the world's most rewarding diamond mine, more than 17 tons of diamonds have been mined there. The mine has its own airport. Virgin Airlines and Aviair are the only ones allowed to land there. Virgin Airlines has regular flight to transport workers and diamonds back and forth to Perth. Aviair sometimes flies visitors in. The mine will be closed within 2 years, as it is no longer as profitable. It is the low quality of the diamonds that makes it no longer profitable. Wondering what is going to happened with all the houses and the airport.

_{The typical gorges in Bungle Bungle Range. The Gang going around Oz + one.}

Once at home at the hotel we took a shower. Then we were at the country club here and had dinner. We were only five of us the rest had dinner at their cabins. In bed early after a rewarding day.