Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock and pronounced: ool-or-roo) is a large natural sandstone rock formation located in the Northern Territory of Australia. It stands at a massive 348 meters tall and measures a lengthy 9.4 km in width. The sandstone that makes up Uluru is estimated to be around 600 million years old. Uluru is a sacred site to the Anangu tribes of Central Australia, the indigenous peoples of the Western Desert. Although it was 'found' by William Gosse working under the South Australian Government in 1873 CE, the Anangu people lived and inhabited the area for more than 30,000 years and still remain to this day. The name 'Ayers Rock' was given by Gosse in honour of the South Australian Premier at the time, Sir Henry Ayers. Uluru is home to many ancient petroglyphs and rock paintings. For the locals, including the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara (both are indigenous language groups), the site also holds sacred traditions, culture, and rich history. Uluru, along with the surrounding Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at https://www.worldhistory.org/Uluru/.