Friday, December 4, 2009

Sights on leaving Kakadu for Darwin







Now that we have to leave Kakadu I thought I would show some other things of interest in that area. The first photo shows a scrub fire that had been set in the park by the Park Rangers who use fire as a tradutional method of land management, which keeps down dangerous build up of fuel that would allow fires to run out of control and at the same time encourages regrowth so that the fauna can flourish. The next three shots were all taken at a refreshment stop called the Bark Hut and shows a Water Buffalo calf resplendent in pink (Natural colour) and his mother studiously ignoring him while still keeping an eye to his welfare, and in the background an Emu stuts around in the same enclosure. The second last shot is of a quite impressive Magnetic Termite mound, this was taken from the bus and isn't the largest, around it was only about 14" tall, there would be some big ones out in the bush but the bus wouldn't go there. They are known as magnetic Termites, not due to any ferrous content of the termite but because they build the mounds in a North - South alignment to lessen the effect that the Midday Sun has on the colony, Not Dumb our Termites. The last shot is of the Mary river flood plain and shows how it is edged by numerous rocky outcrops, such as the ones on the South Alligator River Flood plains where all those wonderful rock paintings are located.

4 comments:

Chesney said...

Wow, I have never seen a termite mound that large - and here we complain about our little ones in the wood piles...more very cool images. So....when are your white kangaroos going to pick us up and fly us to your homeland? We are packed!

Anonymous said...

Fun tour, that is one impressive mound. The emu is so unlikely looking. I'd like a white kangaroo to pick me up too if it's not too much bother.

Sherrie said...

Hi Ron,
Awesome pictures!! I really like the one of the termite mound. Amazing the little critters can build something that tall! Have a great day!

Sherrie

lijola said...

I have enjoyed this trip so much. Thanks for sharing these great sites!