The Warrumbungle Ranges point dark fingers at the sky
They were once a shield volcano in those years gone by.
The Warrumbungles, as they are referred to locally, are the remnants of an ancient volcano estimated to have been active thirteen million years ago. Erosion over the succeeding years has exposed the hardened lava. A variety of shapes are visible above ground, with gorges and chasms interspersed among them.
The weather varies greatly all around the ranges
Hot and dry in summer with many stormy changes
The winters are the opposite, freezing, so I'm told
Outside doors get frozen shut, that is really cold.
The Warrumbungles sit between the humid coastal strip and the dry western plains. Many creeks rise there, but only one river, the Castlereagh. Springs and waterholes are common in the gorges and valleys. Weather patterns move west to east in summer, bringing hot dry conditions from the inland, with rising air producing frequent storms. The winter weather comes from the nearby coastal regions with humid air and rainy periods. The higher altitude means cold conditions prevail.
The Anglo-Australian Observatory sits like a big white bell
The air is clear, there is no smog, telescopes work well.
People come from everywhere to look up at the stars
And a lot of work is done here for space probes off to Mars.
Author notes
These Ranges are visible from our back yard and are very intrigueing to me. They will be the subject of other writings as time goes by. This version is about a year old now and unfinished. It may never get finished, only abandoned to its fate.
Photo taken from the Anglo-Australian Observatory
Comments please
Comments
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Thats your backyard Bob, you lucky bugger
man, what a wonderful sight to greet the day it must be ... Love how you have encompassed verse (the poet) and the prose (the factual)... works well and delivers the emphasis I think you intended.
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Rob, I only get a glimpse of the dark bits from the backyard but it always intrigues me. I've been up there a few times but haven't seen much yet. I will be there again soon as I need to know more about the place and its history. Thank you for your encouraging comments.
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Beautiful, Bob. Just a brilliant write telling us about the beauty of the Warrumbungles. My mate has told me much about it as he travelled around there many years ago with a friend. Your description was amazing and so realistic, it almost pulled me there. I could feel the changing weather conditions you put it across so well. I love your writes. They are so different from the normal run of the mill poems and a real pleasure to read. I have learnt so much about our great country since reading your works and i know i will learn a lot more. Sorry about the non capitalising. Again, a wonderful piece of work. No typos i could see nor does it need any changing. (I'm doubtful if anyone could say that, as i doubt anyone knows these things as well as you.)
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These ranges fascinate me no end. I have been there a few times but will be there again soon, maybe next week. The photo was taken from the Observatory which is on one side and its about 25-30 km across with many little tracks leading off here and there. I need to learn more about the place as we can see some of it from our backyard, maybe it is taunting me to go there. I appreciate your support for my writing, I really do. I have so much yet to learn about the art of writing. And still a bit to learn about Mother Nature's gifts to us all, Like the Warrumbungles.
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Bob
It is always a pleasure to read your poetry. There is always something to learn from it my friend. And such a beautiful shot of your country.
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Hi Bob, I thank you for your very kind comments. This area is almost an obsession with me. I have been there a number of times and have seen hardly anything. It covers a vast area. It taunts me because I can see the dark knuckles from my backyard. I'm going again in the next few weeks, subject to fine weather. The photo is taken from the Anglo Australian Observatory enclosure.
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thanks again Jackie, These ranges cover a large area and have been occupied by aboriginals for thousands of years. So much yet to find out about them, and probably not enough time.
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It was great to learn something about these Ranges!!
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Nice to see a piece of Australia here on your page. We have a unique landscape in Oz and you share it here for all to see. Your informative write adds to the reader's appreciation of the landscape, and the rhyming verses work well amongst the text, continuing the information theme. Well done...alby
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Hi Alby, This is a really great place in Oz for anyone to visit. The Observatory is on one side of the National Park which extends about 15-20 kilometres from there. Its wild, unspoiled and beautiful. Thanks for your comments and encouragment.
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This is great! Very informative too. It's a really nice area mate!
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Many thanks for your kind comments. This area has me completely enthralled. An ancient volcano, a meeting place for two aboriginal tribes, astronomy telescopes, and mystery contained in what is now a National Park. there is a lot left in there yet.
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