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Table of Contents
The Blue Mountains National Park is a large area west of Sydney, Australia, part of the Great Dividing Range. Near Katoomba, the Echo Point lookout offers panoramic views of Jamison Valley and the Three Sisters, a tall sandstone outcrop and sacred Aboriginal landmark.
See the fact file below for more information on the Blue Mountains, or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Blue Mountains worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Historical Background
- Governor Phillip dubbed the Blue Mountains “Carmarthen Hills” and “Lansdowne Hills” in 1788, but it wasn’t long before the unique blue haze around the area led to the name changing to the Blue Mountains.
- Oil-bearing Eucalyptus trees are abundant in the Blue Mountains. The atmosphere is densely packed with finely dispersed oil droplets which, when combined with dust particles and water vapor, scatter short-wavelength blue light rays.
- According to archaeological investigations, the Blue Mountains developed roughly one million years ago as part of the Kosciusko Uplift during the Pliocene Epoch. The Blue Mountains were seen as an impassable barrier to future exploration due to the harsh terrain and scarcity of resources.
- Gregory Blaxland, William Charles Wentworth, and Lieutenant Lawson set out on an adventure that would change history in 1813, accompanied by four servants, four pack horses, and five dogs. On May 11, 1813, the explorers set out from Emu Plains for the Blue Mountains’ foothills, or Glenbrook as it is now known.
- Following the discovery of the gently sloping mountains to the west eighteen days later, on May 29, 1813, the Blue Mountains were no longer regarded as an impassable barrier.
Geography
- A well-dissected sandstone plateau rises from an eastern escarpment (1,200-1,800 feet [370-550 meters]) to 3,871 feet (1,180 meters) in a western scarp at Bird Rock. Its slopes are often steep.
- Gregory Blaxland, William C. Wentworth, and William Lawson were the first Europeans to traverse the range in 1813.
- The main towns include Katoomba, Leura, Mount Victoria, Blackheath, Springwood, Wentworth Falls, and Hazelbrook, located on the rail line and Great Western Highway between Sydney (40 miles [60 km] east) and Lithgow on the mountains’ western slopes.
- The City of Blue Mountains was founded in 1947 as a confederation of more than 20 townships and villages. The city is located within the national park’s limits.
- The area is a popular vacation destination; because of this, urban growth has been rapid. The estimated number of residents increased from 74,067 in 2006 to 75,942 in 2011.
- The mountains are named after their bluish color, which is thought to be generated by light rays diffusing through oil droplets spread into the air by the various varieties of indigenous eucalyptus trees.
Top Sights
- The Three Sisters were produced by land erosion some 200 million years ago during the Triassic period, when the Blue Mountains’ sandstone was worn over time by breeze, rain, and rivers, gradually breaking up the cliffs around the Jamison Valley.
- When the Blue Mountains were submerged in water, the ocean brought large volumes of sediment to the seafloor in transverse layers. These layers eventually formed rock beds and shale. Volcanoes erupted through the coal, sandstone, and shale layers some 200 million years ago, generating the ridges and shape of the Three Sisters.
- The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden opened in 1972. It also includes 128 hectares (320 acres) of conservation land. The garden lies 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level and specializes in cool-climate species that would not thrive in Sydney’s warmer environment.
- The Botanic Gardens Trust, which trades as the Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands, is in charge of the gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, and the Australian Botanic Garden in Mount Annan. The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage manages the Trust.
- Katoomba Falls is a segmented waterfall located near Echo Point near Katoomba on the Kedumba River, descending into the Jamison Valley within the Blue Mountains National Park in New South Wales, Australia. On Scenic Drive, near the head of the waterfall, there is a visitor park with unpowered and powered campsites and cabins.
- Govetts Leap Falls is located in the Blue Mountains National Park, overlooking the Grose Valley. The falls were named after William Romaine Govett, a Government Surveyor who discovered them in c. 1831.
- The waterfall features a single 180-meter drop (590 ft). There are public bathrooms, picnic tables, and water available at the neighboring Govetts Leap Lookout.
- Starting from Evans Lookout in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains, the Grand Canyon walk takes you through waterfalls, rivers, and spectacular views.
- The spectacular Grand Canyon route near Blackheath in the Blue Mountains is lined with arresting sandstone walls, ever-present waterfalls, and rich native plants. The ancient circular route takes you deep into this World Heritage-listed area. Since 1907, walkers have traversed this private and challenging trail.
- The well-shaded track begins at Evans Lookout and meanders through rich natural foliage of ferns and golden wattles, remaining close to Greaves Creek.
- A neighboring picnic area can be seen before returning to the lookout to shorten the loop by leaving a second car at the Evans Lookout Road entrance.
Significance
- Visitors do not just appreciate the natural splendor of the Blue Mountains. UNESCO designated the Greater Blue Mountains area as a World Heritage site for exhibiting the evolution of eucalypts in Australia following its split from the Gondwana continent. Home to 78,740 people, the Blue Mountains supports 19,513 jobs and has an annual economic output of $5.680 billion.
- The Blue Mountains’ natural significance to Australia and the globe is highlighted by the World Heritage designation, which recognizes the need to safeguard and preserve the area for future generations.
- The biological richness of the Blue Mountains is the primary rationale for its designation as a World Heritage site. The area features unique and diversified ecosystems that are environmentally significant to Australia and the world, with close to 100 kinds of eucalypts, 400 animal species, and more new species of flora and fauna being discovered all the time. As a result, the area is home to many endemic, endangered, and threatened species, as well as evolutionary relic species.
- In addition, the Blue Mountains are noteworthy for indigenous cultural values and their biological importance.
Blue Mountains Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Blue Mountains across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about the Blue Mountains, which is part of the Great Dividing Range west of Sydney, Australia.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Blue Mountains Facts
- Hunting Place
- Important Years
- Guess the Emoji
- Almost Done!
- Big Three
- Gather Facts
- Bucket List 2022
- Letter to the Future
- Promote Awareness
- Draw Your Favorite
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do they call it the Blue Mountains?
The Blue Mountains are named like this because of the blue haze that surrounds them. Before they were called the Blue Mountains, they were also known as Carmarthen Hills and Landsdowne Hills.
Where are the Blue Mountains located?
The Blue Mountains are located west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales in Australia. It is part of the Great Dividing Range.
What is special about the Blue Mountains?
The Three Sisters, a tall sandstone outcrop of the Blue Mountains is a sacred Aboriginal landmark. It is also an incredibly beautiful natural site, making it popular with tourists.
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Link will appear as Blue Mountains Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 8, 2022
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.