Kimberley is a region of mountain ranges and plateaus in northwestern Australia. It is sometimes called the Kimberleys. The region is bounded on the east by the Ord River and its tributaries, and on the west by the Fitzroy River and its tributaries. The area is noted for its spectacular beauty. Some peaks reach heights of about 3,000 feet (915 meters) above sea level. Wyndham is the chief town of the Kimberley area.
Many cattle stations (ranches) are found in the Kimberley. Much of the land in the region is unsuitable for agriculture. From December to March, heavy rains fall there. During this rainy season, flooding is common, and many roads become impassable. The Ord River and its tributaries flow across black soil plains.
The rugged beauty of the Kimberley region makes it a popular tourist destination. Many local companies offer hiking and camping trips in the area. The region is home to several national parks. One of the best known is Purnululu National Park. This park is famous for the Bungle Bungle Range, a series of large sandstone formations that have eroded into beehive-shaped domes over millions of years. Wolfe Creek Crater National Park features a 2,887-foot (880-meter) crater that formed when a meteor crashed to Earth some 300,000 years ago.
Prospectors discovered gold in the Kimberleys in 1885. A gold rush followed, bringing hundreds of people to the colony. In the late 1970’s, diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes were discovered in the Kimberley.
See also Bungle Bungle Range ; Ord River .
