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kakadu, northern territory
kakadu
In Kakadu there are three major languages spoken - Gundjheimi/Mauali, Kunwinjku and Jawoyn. Most residents can speak two or three of these - English is often their second or third language.
Kakadu holds some of the best rock art in the world - from 20,000 years ago to the arrival of white man. Many of the legends of Kakadu are drawn on the rocks - such as the Namarrgon the Lightening Man and Ngalyod the Rainbow Serpent. Lots of the rock art is in X-ray style, showing the internal organs and skeletons of the animals and people depicted. Certain areas of the park had been known for years to the locals as 'The Sickness Land' - the areas where uranium is now heavily mined, or waiting to be mined (the Ranger mine and Jabiluka).
A calendar showing the times of the year the Gun-Djeihmi burnt off the different areas of the park.
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Said fires.
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The violent electrical storms which happen here every year are due to the Namarrgon, the Lightening Man (on the right). He wears his lightening as a band around him connecting his arms, legs and head. Stone axes on his knees and elbows make the sound of thunder.
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This is Nabulwinjbulwinj. He is a dangerous spirit who eats women after hitting them with a yam. Stay away sisters.
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Nourlangie Rock, where Namarrgon is drawn.
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The problem with coming to see Kakadu in the Wet. This is a picnic area at Anbangbang Billabong.
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Cathedral termite mounds are among the largest built anywhere in the world. They can sometimes be six metres tall and over 50 years old.
More spectacular photos of Kakadu can be found at Ubirr. Unfortunately, we could only spend a day and a half in Kakadu, but most of it was closed due to the wet season anyway. |
Last updated: 5th February, 2002
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Northern Territory
