Rocks and railroads.

Leaving Wilpena we headed north to the gorges. Some of them were quite ordinary, but one in particular was interesting in that the geology gives an insight into how the Flinders Ranges were formed.

650 million years ago, prior to life on earth, most of this region was undersea, and the rock that was formed is quartzite and sandstone, and other harder rocks. There are no fossils in these rocks, as it was later, after lifeforms evolved, that softer mudstone and limestone were formed and the rocks started to contain them. Then, as the continent was pushed up from beneath the waters many weird shapes evolved, with the softer siltstone and shale eroding and the harder standing out.

Brachina Gorge shows much of this, and as we drove through the valley there were many signs giving us information about the formations, and it also told us that a large meteorite about 4 kms in diameter fell to earth close by around 600 million years ago, leaving a large crater and huge lumps of rock in the area. Such an impact today would wipe out much of life on earth.

Later we camped in the last true town before the Oodnadata track, Leigh Creek. There was no town here before 1948, when it was decided to mine the coal that was there for the power Station in Port Augusta. They still do, and as a result there is a thriving small town there with a lovely clean caravan site.

Moving on we passed through a 'significant city' called Lyndhurst, I'm sure you can see why I call it that....

 But now we are in Maree,a village at the start of the track, which consists of one pub, a general store, and a campground. Little else I’m afraid, other than several million flies, most of which are flying around us! We have our fly net on the awning out for the very first time in anger, the only other time being to try it out. If this is a taste of things to come…….

But there are a couple of railway engines, we have followed the Old Ghan track up from Leigh Creek, and here in Marree they have preserved the Station and the diesel engines. We also came across a wartime truck that had been used to deliver mail in the area at one time, as well as an old bullock wagon. This is Maree....