What’s Kakadu National Park?

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Kakadu National Park is a huge park in Northern Australia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been since 1981, expanded in 1987 and again in 1992. Kakadu National Park contains a large swath of relatively untouched land, with a diverse range of flora and fauna. The park also offers an amazing insight into the deep history of Australia’s Aboriginal peoples.

Kakadu National Park covers more than 4.7 million acres, or nearly 7,700 square miles (20,000 sq km). That makes it about one and a half times the size of the state of Connecticut, or roughly the size of Israel. Kakadu National Park is home to more than 10,000 insect species, more than 1,500 plant species, more than 50 aquatic animal species, more than 50 mammal species, and nearly 300 bird species. It contains four major river systems, the East, West and South Alligator Rivers and the Wildman River.

Kakadu National Park represents a swath of land that has been inhabited by Aboriginal peoples for 20,000 to 50,000 years, without interruption. Visitors can experience at least part of this dwelling by visiting one of the more than five thousand art sites that dot the park. The park is still inhabited by Aboriginal people, a population of around 500, who are officially recognized as owning more than half of the park and claiming the other half. Kakadu National Park is actually leased by Aboriginal people to the Australian government to manage under the national park system.

Two species of crocodiles are found in Kakadu National Park and are one of the most popular attractions for visitors in search of wildlife. Kangaroos, wallabies, various butterflies and a bewildering array of frogs are other highly visible animals found within the park. Many of the mammals found within the park are nocturnal, but for those willing to devote the time and energy to their search, they can provide a rare opportunity to see these marsupial creatures.

Visitors interested in flora will find great diversity in Kakadu National Park. There are a number of distinct biomes, each with their own specialized lifeforms. A handful of endemic species can also be found, which can only be found within Kakadu National Park, including Eucalyptus koolpinensis. Mangroves, banyan figs, paper bark trees, some unique water lilies, various resurrection herbs and kapok trees are among the flora found in the park.

Kakadu National Park is huge and contains a wide range of beautiful landforms for tourists to enjoy. The park contains excellent swimming and has some truly majestic waterfalls. Good hiking and climbing can be found throughout Kakadu and the various wetlands and rivers provide opportunities for water travel.

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