Editing Ikara–Flinders Ranges National Park

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = protected
| name                   = Ikara–Flinders Ranges National Park
| state                  = sa
| iucn_category          = II
| iucn_ref      = <ref name=CAPAD2016SASum>{{cite web|title= Terrestrial Protected Areas of South Australia (refer 'DETAIL' tab ) |url= http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/761994ab-42cc-4f24-952c-c21221861884/files/capad2016sa.xlsx |work=CAPAD 2016|publisher=Australian Government, Department of the Environment (DoE) |access-date=21 February 2018 |date=2016}}</ref>

| image                  = Razorback Lookout, Ikara-Flinders Ranges NP 20230212 1.jpg
| caption                = Razorback Lookout in Ikara–Flinders Ranges National Park
| image_alt              = 
| coordinates            = {{coord|31|25|20|S|138|42|18|E|scale:1000000|display=inline,title}}
| relief                 = yes
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| map_alt                = 
| nearest_town_or_city   = [[Hawker, South Australia|Hawker]]
| area                   = 933.97
| area_footnotes         = <ref name=CAPAD2016SASum/>
| established            = {{start date|1945|01|01|df=y}}
| established_footnotes  = <ref name=CAPAD2016SASum/>
| visitation_num         = 
| visitation_year        = 
| visitation_footnotes   = 
| managing_authorities   = [[National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia]]
| url                    = www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/ikara-flinders-ranges-national-park
}}

The '''Ikara–Flinders Ranges National Park''', formerly '''Flinders Ranges National Park''', is a [[national park]] situated approximately {{cvt|430|km}} north of [[Adelaide]]. It lies  northeast of the small town of [[Hawker, South Australia|Hawker]], in the northern central part of [[South Australia]]'s largest [[mountain range]], the [[Flinders Ranges]], and covers an area of {{cvt|95,000|ha|mi2}} between Hawker and [[Blinman]]. It is known for the land formation known as [[Wilpena Pound]], while other well-known features include the Heysen Range and the Brachina and Bunyeroo gorges. The [[Heysen Trail]] and [[Mawson Trail]] pass through the park.

==History==
{{further|Flinders Ranges#History}}
[[File:Flinders Ranges Way, North view 20230211 1.jpg|Flinders Ranges Way, the main road crossing the park|thumb]]
[[File:Brachina Gorge Rd, Ikara-Flinders Ranges NP 20230212 2.jpg|Brachina Gorge Road|thumb]]
[[File:Appealinna Ruins, Flinders Ranges 20230211 2.jpg|Appealinna Ruins|thumb]]
[[File:NASA-Flinders-Ranges.JPG|Flinders Ranges from space|thumb]]
For millennia, the [[Adnyamathanha]] people have inhabited the Flinders Ranges. On 12 February 2016 the park was renamed to include the [[Adnyamathanha language|Adnyamathanha word]], ''Ikara'', "meeting place", referring to the traditional name for Wilpena Pound.<ref name=Ikara>{{cite web | last=Dulaney | first=Michael| last2=Bennett | first2=Tim | last3=Brown | first3=Carmen | title=Flinders Ranges renamed in recognition of traditional Aboriginal owners | website= [[ABC News (Australia)]] | date=12 February 2016 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-12/flinders-ranges-renamed-in-recognition-of-traditional-owners/7161498 | access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>

==Geology==
The Flinders Ranges are largely composed of folded and faulted sediments of the [[Adelaide Geosyncline]]. This very thick sequence of sediments were deposited in a large basin during the [[Neoproterozoic]] on the passive margin of the ancient continent of [[Rodinia]]. During the [[Cambrian]], approximately 540 million years ago, the area underwent the [[Delamerian Orogeny|Delamerian orogeny]] where the geosynclinal sequence was folded and faulted into a large mountain range. Since this time the area has undergone erosion resulting in the relatively low ranges today.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Most of the high ground and ridgetops in the Flinders are sequences of [[quartzite]]s that outcrop along [[Strike (geology)|strike]]. The high walls of [[Wilpena Pound]] are formed by the outcropping beds of the eponymous Pound Quartzite in a synclinal structure. The same formation forms many of the other high parts of the Flinders, including the high plateau of the [[Gammon Ranges]] and the Heysen Range. [[Cuesta]] forms are also very common in the Flinders.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

==Features and accessibility==
The park lies around {{cvt|430|km}}} north of [[Adelaide city centre]], and covers {{cvt|95,000|ha|mi2}}, between Hawker and Blinman.<ref name=Ikara/>

The park's most characteristic landmark is [[Wilpena Pound]], a large, [[sickle]]-shaped, natural [[amphitheatre]] covering nearly {{cvt|80|km²}}, containing the range's highest peak, [[St Mary Peak]] ({{convert|1170|m|ft}}).<ref name="Australian Places">{{cite book|title=Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to Australian Places |year=1993 |publisher= [[Reader's Digest]] |location=Sydney, NSW|isbn=0-86438-399-1|pages=526}}</ref> The Heysen Range is within the park.<ref name=paw/> There are many lookouts, scenic vistas, small [[canyon]]s, and unusual rock formations located in the park, including Brachina Gorge, Bunyeroo Gorge, Arkaroo Rock, Wilkawillina Gorge, and Hucks Lookout. The park has some stone ruins from early European settlement and [[Indigenous Australian rock art|Aboriginal rock art]] sites. A rock formation called the Great Wall of China is located just outside the park.<ref name="Australian Places"/>

The park centre at Wilpena Pound is accessible by sealed road from Hawker. Other areas in the park can be reached by unsealed roads, which are mostly accessible by two-wheel drive vehicles except in bad weather or after heavy rain. Camping is permitted at many locations in the park.<ref name="Australian Places"/>

The park is co-managed by the [[National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia]], which is part of the [[Department for Environment and Water (South Australia)|Department for Environment and Water]],<ref name=paw>{{cite web| url=https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/ikara-flinders-ranges-national-park| title=Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park | website=[[National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia]]|access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref> and the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association (since 2011).<ref name=Ikara/>

==Flora and fauna==
The [[flora]] of the Flinders Ranges is composed largely of species adapted to a semi-arid environment such as [[Callitris|cypress-pine]], [[mallee (habit)|mallee]], and [[Casuarina pauper|black oak]]. Moister areas near Wilpena Pound support [[grevillea]]s, [[Hibbertia|Guinea flower]]s, [[lily|lilies]] and [[fern]]s. [[Phragmites|Reed]]s and [[Cyperaceae|sedge]]s grow near permanent water sources such as [[spring (hydrology)|spring]]s and [[Depression (geology)|waterhole]]s.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Since the eradication of [[dingo]]s and the establishment of permanent waterholes for stock, the numbers of [[red kangaroo]]s, [[western grey kangaroo]]s and [[wallaroo|euro]]s in the Flinders Ranges have increased. The [[yellow-footed rock-wallaby]], which neared extinction after the arrival of Europeans due to hunting and predation by [[Red fox|fox]]es, has now stabilized. Other endemic marsupials include [[dunnart]]s, [[planigale]]s. Efforts to reintroduce the [[western quoll]] and the [[brushtail possum]] in the park have been ongoing since 2014.<ref name=SAAL>{{cite web|author=<!--not stated-->|title=Western Quoll (Idnya) and Brushtail Possum (Virlda) reintroduction to the Flinders Ranges|publisher=SA Arid Lands Landscape Board|location=|year=2024|url=https://www.landscape.sa.gov.au/saal/plants-and-animals/native-plants-and-animals/bounceback/western-quoll-idnya|access-date=21 October 2024}}</ref> [[Echidna]]s are the sole [[monotreme]] species in the park. Insectivorous [[bat]]s make up significant proportion of mammals in the area. Reptiles include [[goanna]]s, [[snake]]s, [[Bearded dragon|dragon lizards]], [[skink]]s and [[gecko]]s. The [[crinia|streambank froglet]] is an endemic [[amphibian]].<ref name="Australian Places"/>

===Birds===
There are a large number of bird species including various [[parrot]]s, [[emu]]s, the [[wedge-tailed eagle]]s and small numbers of [[waterbird]]s. The land within the national park has been identified by [[BirdLife International]] as an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) because it contains an apparently sustainable population of the range-restricted [[short-tailed grasswren]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |title=IBA: Flinders Ranges |access-date=2011-06-22 |work=Birdata |publisher=Birds Australia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102341/http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |archive-date=6 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Heritage listings==
There are a number of heritage-listed sites within the national park:
* [[Eddie Pumpa Outstation]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=43 | title=Eddie Pumpa Outstation including Outbuilding, Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215225818/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=43 | archive-date=15 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Hayward Homestead Ruins]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=45 | title=Hayward Homestead (Ruin), Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216004850/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=45 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Impact Ejecta Horizon Late Precambrian Shales Geological Site]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=76 | title=Impact Ejecta Horizon Late Precambrian Shales Geological Site, Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216002001/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=76 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Enorama Mail Station and Rubbish Dump]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=47 | title=Mail Station & Rubbish Dump, Enorama Site (Ruin), Aroona Station, Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216014347/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=47 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Oraparinna Diapir]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=81 | title=Oraparinna Diapir Locality (designated place of geological significance), Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215224103/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=81 | archive-date=15 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Wilpena Homestead Complex]]<ref>{{cite web | website=The South Australia Heritage Places database | title=Wilpena Homestead Complex, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park | url=https://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=62 | access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>
* Wilpena Pound (geological landform)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=72 | title=Wilpena Pound Geological Landform, Flinders Ranges National Park (designated place of geological significance) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216012639/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=72 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Stromatolites in the Precambrian Trezona Formation, Enorama Creek]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=73 | title=Stromatolites in the Precambrian Trezona Formation, Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216020424/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=73 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Wills Homestead Complex Ruins]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=44 | title=Wills Homestead Complex (Ruins), Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215232014/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=44 | archive-date=15 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Appealinna Mine Ruins and Miners Hut]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=52 | title=Appealinna Mine Ruins & Miner's Hut, Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215230350/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=52 | archive-date=15 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Wilkawillina Archaeocyathae Geological Site]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=74 | title=Wilkawillina Archaeocyathae Geological Site, partly located within Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216015252/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=74 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Dingley Dell Homestead Ruins]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=46 | title=Dingley Dell Homestead (Ruin) (including Stable/Pen, Retaining Wall, Lime Kilns, Meat and Smoke House), Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216005759/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=46 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Hill's Cottage, Wilpena Pound]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=42 | title=The South Australia Heritage Places database | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215234712/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=42 | archive-date=15 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Enorama Diapir]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=86 | title=Enorama Diapir Locality - Diapir Reef Complex (designated place of geological significance) Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215233243/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=86 | archive-date=15 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Oraparinna Station Blacksmith's Shop]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=48 | title=Former Blacksmith's Shop, Oraparinna Station, Flinders Ranges National Park | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=12 February 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216021138/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=48 | archive-date=16 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Arkaroola]], a wildlife sanctuary
*[[Cazneaux Tree]], an historic tree near Wilpena Pound
*[[Mawson Plateau]]
*[[Mount Chambers Gorge]]
*[[Protected areas of South Australia]]
*[[Wapma Thura–Southern Flinders Ranges National Park]]
*[[Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park}}
{{Wikivoyage|Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park}}
*[http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/flinders-ranges-outback/ikara-flinders-ranges-national-park Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park official website]
* [http://www.southaustralia.com/en/places-to-go/flinders-ranges-and-outback Flinders Rangers & Outback at SouthAustralia.com]
*[http://www.protectedplanet.net/475 Flinders Ranges National Park page on ProtectedPlanet]

{{Protected areas of South Australia|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park}}
[[Category:National parks of South Australia]]
[[Category:Flinders Ranges]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1945]]
[[Category:1945 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Far North (South Australia)]]