Karijini National Park
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Karijini National Park Western Australia |
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IUCN category II (national park)
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Hancock Gorge
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 Karijini National Park
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| Nearest town or city | Tom Price |
| Coordinates | 22°29′46″S 118°23′50″E / 22.49611°S 118.39722°ECoordinates: 22°29′46″S 118°23′50″E / 22.49611°S 118.39722°E |
| Established | 1969 |
| Area | 6,274.22 km2 (2,422.5 sq mi) |
| Visitation | 166,000 (in 2009) |
| Managing authorities | Department of Parks and Wildlife (Western Australia) |
| Website | Karijini National Park |
| See also | List of protected areas of Western Australia |
Karijini National Park is a national park centred in the Hamersley Ranges of the Pilbara region in the northwestern section of the Australian state of Western Australia. The park is located just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, approximately 1,055 kilometres (656 mi) from the state's capital city, Perth. Formerly known as Hamersley Range National Park, the park was officially renamed in 1991.
At 627,422 hectares (1,550,390 acres), Karijini is the second largest national park in Western Australia with Karlamilyi National Park being the largest park.
The park is physically split into a northern and a southern half by a corridor containing the Hamersley & Robe River railway and the Marandoo iron ore mine.
The park is served by the Solomon Airport, located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) westwards.
A party led by explorer F.T. Gregory explored the area in 1861. He named the Hamersley Range, on which the park is centred, after his friend Edward Hamersley.
The park is located in the Pilbara region, and is mostly tropical semi-arid climate. In summer, thunderstorms and cyclones are common, bringing 250–350 mm of rain annually. Temperatures on summer days frequently exceed 40 degrees Celsius, while winter nights can bring frost.
Several gorges that flow north out of the park—including Dales, Kalamina, Wittenoom and Yampire Gorges—provide spectacular displays of the rock layers:
The park is most notable for its many gorges containing slot canyons, waterfalls and water holes with visitors sometimes swimming in the cold pools of water.
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Wikipedia