Uluru is a massive sandstone rock formation located in the heart of Australia’s Northern Territory, in the central desert region. It is one of the country’s most recognisable natural and cultural landmarks.
It stands about 348 metres tall, with a base circumference of roughly 9.4 km, and — like an iceberg — extends several kilometres underground, far more than what is visible above the surface.
“Uluru” is the name in the Pitjantjatjara language, spoken by the Anangu people, the traditional custodians of the land for over 30,000 years. The name “Ayers Rock” was given in 1873 by explorer William Gosse, in honour of the then Chief Secretary of South Australia, Henry Ayers. Today the dual name Uluru / Ayers Rock is used officially, with the Indigenous name given priority.
For the Anangu, Uluru is a central sacred site within their cosmology, known as Tjukurpa (sometimes translated as “Dreamtime” or ancestral law). Numerous caves, cracks, and markings on the rock are linked to creation stories.
The rock is famous for changing colour depending on the light — shifting from ochre to deep red at sunrise and sunset — due to the oxidation of iron within the sandstone.
For decades it was popular to climb the rock, despite opposition from the Anangu. Since October 2019, climbing has been officially banned out of respect for its sacred status.
It forms part of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for both its natural and cultural significance.