The Blue Mountains

INTRODUCING THE BLUE MOUNTAINS!!

Believe it or not... These mountains do actually look blue! From a distance of course. This is due to the unique colourization that the air and surrounding landscape create during certain parts of the day. The Blue Mountains is a region in New South Wales consisting of mountainous sandstone plateaus which is dissected by gorges up to 760 metres deep! Its one of the highest regions in Australia and is definitely worth a peek!

FAST FACTS:

• The Blue Mountains is a mountainous region in New South Wales, Australia.
• It borders on Sydney's metropolitan area, its foothills starting approximately 50 kilometres west of the state capital.
• Consisting mainly of a sandstone plateau, the area is dissected by gorges up to 760 metres deep.
• The highest point of the range is 1,190 metres above sea level.
• The Blue Mountains were once thought of as the barrier to freedom, with many early settlers believing China was on the other side.
• 25 years later Europeans crossed the mountains and soon after a road was built to the other side.
• The Blue Mountains offer spectacular scenery, plantlife and wildlife.
• When the Europeans arrived in Australia, the Blue Mountains had already been inhabited for several millennia.
• Examples of Aboriginal habitation can be found in many places.
• Between 1798 and 1813, many people explored various parts of the mountains, from the Bilpin Ridge to the southern regions, but none were able to define a route across the Blue Mountains.
• Official credit for crossing the Blue Mountains was eventually given to Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth.
• The climate varies with altitude.
• At Katoomba (1,010 m) summer daytime temperatures are usually in the 20c with a few days extending into the 30c (Celsius)
• Night-time temperatures are usually in the teens.
• The Greater Blue Mountains Area was unanimously listed as a World Heritage Area by UNESCO on 29 November 2000, becoming the fourth area in New South Wales to be listed.

Take a look at some of the Blue Mountains tours available from Lost in Australia and discover one of the highest regions in Australia today!