Colourful Ormiston Gorge

by Lexa Harpell

Title

Colourful Ormiston Gorge

Artist

Lexa Harpell

Medium

Photograph - Photographs

Description

Raw and Untouched Northern Territory Series by Lexa Harpell.

The Pound Track of Ormiston Gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia.
I’d suggest an early start, around 7am to take in the sun rising over the ranges. Usually, a 4 hours hike through the natural amphitheatre pound, then through the narrow gorge.

Yet it is a photographic delight with ever changing scenery of grassy ranges to amazing rock formations with brilliant burnt orange gorge walls to beautiful pastel tones through the gorge and rocky dry river bed – in winter. So a 4 hour hike turned into a 7 hour hike photographing and sometimes just sitting absorbing the scenery.

*Walking through the long narrow gorge, the walls are tall. One side is in brilliant sunshine where the colours are vivid and dry. The other side is in the shade where the colours of the wall are softer, milky to the touch and with an iridescent glow - worn by the water of the wummer rains and rock pools.

The river fills to great heights during the summer months which makes the circular track impassable.
Even though there was little to no water in the river, (during the winter months) I still had to wade waist deep across one small section towards the end.

Colours of Ormiston Gorge are nothing short of spectacular. Rich, bright red quartzite peaks against the pastels of granite, limestone, sandstone and siltstone dot the riverbed.

Created over 300millions years ago, time, earth’s folding and erosion has created a natural, colourful spectacular to feast your eyes upon.

Add a permanent waterhole at its base to swim or cool down, it is one of my favourite places to spend time.

Central Australia was once an inland sea and Ormiston Gorge has fossils to read its past. There are still some tropical plants growing in the era from its long past. Such contrasts!

Ghost gum trees grow along the ridges with their root winding their way down through the cracks in the rocks to the waters. One tree is estimated to have roots 70mtrs deep.

Uploaded

December 13th, 2020

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