Geikie Gorge National Park
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Geikie Gorge National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
Nearest town/city: | Fitzroy Crossing |
Coordinates: | |
Area: | 31.36 km² |
Managing authorities: | Department of Environment and Conservation Darlngunaya Aboriginal Corporation |
Official site: | Geikie Gorge National Park |
Geikie Gorge National Park is in Western Australia, 1831 km northeast of Perth and 420 km east of Broome. The gorge was named in honour of Sir Archibald Geikie, the Director General of Geological Survey for Great Britain and Ireland when it was given its European name in 1883. Sir Archibald never visited the gorge and in due course the traditional owners, the Bunaba people, hope that it will be more generally known by its Aboriginal name, Darngku.
The gorge has been formed by the Fitzroy River and the level of the river in the wet season can rise by up to 16.5m. The flood level can be clearly seen on the walls where the abrasive action of the floodwaters on the limestone has scoured the surface white.