Geikie Gorge

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Geikie Gorge is located within the grounds of Geikie Gorge National Park, 20km from Fitzroy Crossing, 1831 km northeast of Perth and 420 km east of Broome in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. Believed to be one of the best-known and most easily accessed,[1] the gorge is named in honour of Sir Archibald Geikie, the Director General of Geological Survey for Great Britain and Ireland when it was given its European name in 1883.[2] The traditional owners, the Bunaba people, hope that it will one day be known by its Aboriginal name, Darngku.[3]

Along with Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge, Geikie Gorge is part of an ancient barrier reef that developed during the Devonian Period.[2] The walls of the gorge are 30 metres high.[4] The eight kilometer gorge was created by the flowing waters of the Fitzroy River,[5] which still flows through the region and the wildlife present in the Gorge includes: the Johnson crocodile, Leichhardt's sawfish and Coach-whip stingrays.[2][6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Burt, Jocelyn (1996). Discover Western Australia. UWA Press. ISBN:187556084X. 
  2. ^ a b c Fitzroy Crossing. The Age (2004-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  3. ^ Amanda Banks (2005-11-02). Hunt for Lost German Tourist Intensifies. The Australian. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  4. ^ Side Trips. The New York Times (2006-11-20). Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  5. ^ Daly, Margo; Anne Dehne, David Leffman, Chris Scott (2003). The Rough Guide to Australia. Rough Guides, 779. ISBN:1843530902. 
  6. ^ Burt, Jocelyn. Kimberley: Australia's Unique North West. UWA Press, 71. ISBN:1920694153. 
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