Uluru is the Australian natural landmark formerly known as Ayers Rock, a massive sandstone monolith in the Northern Territory.
The rock rises dramatically from the surrounding flat landscape and is especially notable for its changing colors at sunrise and sunset. Its visible shape is only part of a larger geological formation extending underground. The sandstone was tilted during ancient geological processes, leaving steeply angled layers exposed.
Uluru is deeply significant to the Anangu, the Traditional Owners of the area. Its caves, waterholes, and surfaces are connected with Tjukurpa, the religious and cultural law that guides Anangu life and explains ancestral creation stories.
The official name was restored to Uluru in 1993, with “Ayers Rock” retained as an alternative name for a period. Climbing was permanently prohibited in October 2019, reflecting cultural concerns and the wishes of the traditional custodians.