Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a massive sandstone monolith in the Northern Territory of central Australia. Here are some intriguing, well- supported facts about this iconic site.

Quick highlights

• Size and shape: Uluru rises about 348 meters (1,140 feet) above the surrounding plain and has a circumference of about 9.4 kilometers (5.8 miles). It spans roughly 3.6 kilometers long by 1.9 kilometers wide at its base.

• Age and composition: The formation is around 500–550 million years old and is primarily composed of arkose sandstone, with a high feldspar content. The outer surface oxidizes to a reddish hue due to iron minerals interacting with air and rain.

• Elevation and view: The site sits at about 863 meters above sea level, with the actual rock rising significantly above the surrounding landscape.

• Sacred significance: Uluru is a deeply sacred site for the Anangu people, the traditional custodians of the land. It features numerous culturally important sites and rock art along the base, reflecting tens of thousands of years of Indigenous connection to the landscape.

• Color change: Uluru is renowned for dramatic color changes—dramatic reds at sunrise and sunset, shifting hues throughout the day as the light angle changes and surface oxidation continues.

• Climbing status: Climbing Uluru was banned in 2019 out of respect for Anangu traditions and due to safety concerns; visitors are encouraged to walk designated paths around the base to experience its scale and significance.

• UNESCO status: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for both its natural and cultural values, including its geology and Indigenous heritage.

Geological context

• Uluru is an inselberg, an “island mountain” that rises abruptly from flat terrain, formed from ancient sedimentary layers tilted nearly vertical over time.

• The rock is largely arkose sandstone, rich in feldspar, with occasional conglomerate. The pink-to-red color arises as iron-bearing minerals oxidize when exposed to air and water.

• The surrounding region contains other ancient formations, and Uluru’s current appearance reflects millions of years of erosion that left this massive monolith standing.

Cultural and visitor information

• The Anangu people’s connection to Uluru is central to the site's meaning and management. Visitors are encouraged to learn about Anangu culture and to respect the guidelines and sacred sites encountered along the base walk.

• For those seeking alternatives to climbing, the base hike and guided cultural tours offer close-up views of caves, art sites, waterholes, and the rock’s changing texture and color.

If you’d like, I can tailor these facts into a concise printable fact sheet, a short script for a travel video, or a comparative mini-guide contrasting Uluru with Kata Tjuta.