Which Australian national park contains the famous sandstone monolith Uluru?

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park contains Uluru, Australia’s famous sandstone monolith. The park lies in the southern Northern Territory and protects both Uluru and Kata Tjuta, a separate group of 36 large rock domes about 40 kilometres to the west.

Uluru rises 348 metres above the surrounding plain, although much of the formation extends underground. Its red-brown colour comes from iron-bearing minerals in the arkose sandstone oxidising at the surface. The rock began as sediment deposited roughly 550–530 million years ago, then geological forces tilted its layers nearly vertically.

Uluru is also a deeply significant cultural place for the Aṉangu, the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land. The park is jointly managed by Aṉangu traditional owners and Parks Australia. It was returned to traditional ownership in 1985 and is recognised by UNESCO for both its natural and cultural values.

A common mix-up is Kata Tjuta: it is in the same national park but is not Uluru. Another is the former name Ayers Rock; Uluru is the official traditional name, and the climbing route was permanently closed in 2019 out of respect for Aṉangu wishes.