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Where
is Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park an Australian
Natural Icon covers almost 20,000 square kms
and is 253 kms East of Darwin the capital city
of the Northern Territory, Australia.
Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage
listed area that has been listed for it's cultural
and natural heritage and Kakadu is the largest
terrestrial national park in Australia. Life in the park does depends on the
water, also in respect to the tropical monsoon
climate that produces the downpours of the tropical
humidity of the "wet" season, and the milder
weather of the "dry" season.
Kakadu
National Park is the gateway to Arnhemland.
The sealed roads from Darwin to Kakadu is
via the Arnhem Highway and from Katherine
to Kakadu National Park via the Kakadu Highway.
The Bowali
Visitor Centre near Jabiru
in Kakadu National Park is located 253
km from Darwin in Northern
Territory Australia via the Arnhem
Highway entrance. If travelling by road,
you should allow 3 hours travelling time from
Darwin.
Kakadu
is the second largest national park in the
world and and is home to approximate number
of species: Mammals: 62, Reptiles: 123+, Birds:
280, Freshwater Fish: 51, Insects: 10,000,
Frogs: 25, Plants: 1,275. (many are rare and
occur only in Kakadu)
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Kakadu
National Park - Seasons
But Australia's
Kakadu sees seasons of varied extremes --
so varied, in fact, that the park's longtime
aboriginal inhabitants have divided the year
into six distinct seasons.
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Gunumeleng Pre-Monsoon
Storm Season
Gunumeleng, from mid-October to late December,
may in fact last from a few weeks to several
months. It is the pre-monsoon season of hot
weather that becomes more and more humid. Thunderstorms
build in the afternoons and scattered showers
bring a tinge of green to the dry land. As the
streams begin to run, acidic water that washes
from the floodplains can cause fish to die in
billabongs with low oxygen levels. Waterbirds
spread out as surface water and new growth become
more widespread. Barramundi move from the waterholes
downstream to the estuaries to breed. This was
when Bininj/Mungguy moved camp from the floodplains
to the stone country, to shelter from the violent
storms of the coming wet season. |
Gudjewg - Monsoon
Season
Gudjewg, from January to March, can be described
as the 'true' wet season. It is a time of thunderstorms,
heavy rain and flooding. The heat and humidity
generate an explosion of plant and animal life.
Spear grass grows to over 2 metres tall and
creates a silvery-green hue throughout the woodlands.
Magpie geese nest in the sedgelands. Flooding
may cause goannas, snakes and rats to seek refuge
in the trees. Eggs and stranded animals are
a good food source for Bininj/Mungguy during
this time. |
Banggereng -
Knock 'em down storm Season
Banggerreng, in April, is the season when the
rain clouds have dispersed and clear skies prevail.
The vast expanses of floodwater recede and streams
start to run clear. Most plants are fruiting
and animals are caring for their young. Violent,
windy storms early in this season flatten the
spear grass; they are called 'knock 'em down'
storms. |
Yegge - Cooler
but still humid Season
Yegge, from May to mid-June, is relatively cool
with low humidity. Early morning mists hang
low over the plains and waterholes. The shallow
wetlands and billabongs are carpeted with water
lilies. Drying winds and flowering Darwin woolly
butt tell Bininj/Mungguy that it is time to
start burning the woodlands in patches to 'clean
the country' and encourage new growth for grazing
animals. |
Wurrgeng - Cold
Weather Season
Wurrgeng, from mid-June to mid-August, is the
'cold weather' time; humidity is low, daytime
temperatures are around 30°C and night-time
temperatures are around 17°C. Most creeks stop
flowing and the floodplains quickly dry out.
Burning continues, extinguished by the dew at
night. By day, birds of prey patrol the fire
lines as insects and small animals try to escape
the flames. Magpie geese, fat and heavy after
weeks of abundant food, and a myriad of other
waterbirds crowd the shrinking billabongs. |
Gurrung - Hot
Dry Weather
Gurrung, from mid-August to mid-October, is
hot and dry. It is still 'goose time' but also
time for Bininj/Mungguy to hunt file snakes
and long-necked turtles. Sea turtles lay their
eggs on the sandy beaches of Field Island and
West Alligator Head and goann as rob their nests
sometimes. White-breasted wood swallows arrive
as thunderclouds build, signalling the return
of Gunumeleng. |
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The Climate of
the Kakadu Region
Kakadu is located
in the tropics, 12 to 14° south of the Equator.
The climate is
monsoonal, characterised by two major seasons:
the dry season and the wet season. The 'build
up' describes the transition between these
two seasons.
During the dry
season (April/May to September), dry southerly
and easterly trade winds predominate. Humidity
is relatively low and rain is very unusual.
At Jabiru the average
maximum temperature for June-July is 32°C.
During the 'build up' (October to December)
conditions can be extremely uncomfortable
with high temperatures and high humidity.
However 'build
up' storms are impressive and lightning strikes
are frequent. In fact the Top End of Australia
records more lighting strikes per year than
any other place on earth.
At Jabiru the average
maximum temperature for October is 37.5°C.
The wet season
(January to March/April) is characterised
by warm temperatures and, as one would expect,
rain.
Most of the rain
is associated with monsoonal troughs formed
over Southeast Asia, although occasionally
tropical cyclones produce intense heavy rain
over localised areas.
At Jabiru the average
maximum temperature for January is 33°C.
Annual rainfall
in Kakadu National Park ranges from 1,565
mm in Jabiru to 1,300 mm in the Mary River
region.
The following charts
provide an indication of rainfall, temperatures
and humidity within the Kakadu region. Data
for the charts was sourced from the Bureau
of Meteorology, Darwin.
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Litchfield
National Park features numerous waterfalls which
cascade from a sandstone plateau called the Tabletop
Range, monsoon rainforests, intriguing magnetic
termite mounds and historical sites.
Litchfield National Park lies approximately 130km's
southwest of Darwin near the town of Batchelor and
covers around 1,500 sq km's.
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Kakadu National
Park an Australian Natural Icon covers almost 20,000
square kms and is 257 kms East of Darwin the capital
city of the Northern Territory, Australia.
Kakadu National
Park gateway to Arnhemland.
The sealed roads
from Darwin to Kakadu is via the Arnhem Highway
and from Katherine to Kakadu
National Park via the Kakadu Highway.
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| • Katherine:
A lush tropical wonderland, the Katherine region is
most famous for the spectacular Katherine Gorge in
Nitmiluk National Park. Just one of 13 stunning gorges
carved into the Arnhem Land plateau by the Katherine
River, a cruise through Katherine Gorge is truly unforgettable.
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