Editing Munga-Thirri National Park

{{confuse| text=the [[Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert National Park]] in South Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = protected
| name                   = Munga-Thirri National Park
| state                  = qld
| iucn_category          = II
| image                  = BigRed.JPG
| caption                = 'Big Red' is the largest sand dune in the national park, 2007
| image_alt              = 
| coordinates            = {{coord|25|08|33|S|138|14|25|E|scale:2000000|display=inline,title}}
| map_alt                = 
| nearest_town_or_city   = [[Birdsville, Queensland|Birdsville]]
| area                   = 10120
| area_footnotes         = 
| established            = 1967<!-- {{start date|yyyy|mm|dd|df=y}} -->
| established_footnotes  = 
| visitation_num         = 
| visitation_year        = 
| visitation_footnotes   = 
| managing_authorities   = Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
| url                    = https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/munga-thirri/
}}
'''Munga-Thirri National Park''', formerly known as the '''Simpson Desert National Park''', is the largest [[national park]] in [[Queensland]], [[Australia]], 1,495&nbsp;km west of [[Brisbane, Australia|Brisbane]].<ref name="xqnp"/> The park covers an area of {{Convert|10120|km2||abbr=}} in the [[Simpson Desert]] surrounding [[Poeppel Corner]] in the west of the locality of [[Birdsville, Queensland|Birdsville]] in the [[Central West Queensland|Central West]] region of Queensland.

==Landforms==
The main features of the park are large [[sand dune]]s which can be 50&nbsp;m high and around 1&nbsp;km apart.<ref name="xqnp">{{cite book |title=Explore Queensland's National Parks |year=2008 |publisher=Explore Australia Publishing |location=Prahran, Victoria |isbn=978-1-74117-245-4 |pages=50 }}</ref> Most dunes are between 10 and 35&nbsp;m in height.<ref name="naq">{{cite book |title=Natural areas of Queensland |last=Shilton |first=Peter |year=2005 |publisher=Goldpress |location=Mount Gravatt, Queensland |isbn=0-9758275-0-2 |pages=303–306 }}</ref> The longest sand ridge is 200&nbsp;km in length.<ref name="naq"/><ref name="asd"/> One of the most prominent dunes is called 'Big Red' and is located 35&nbsp;km west of Birdsville.<ref name="naq"/> The dunes started to form 30,000 years ago.<ref name="naq"/> Also found in the park are [[salt lake]]s and [[claypan]]s.<ref name="herqldout"/>

==Flora and fauna==
The landscape supports up to 180 bird species.<ref name="xqnp"/>  The park includes part of the [[Simpson Desert Important Bird Area]], identified as such by [[BirdLife International]] because it contains habitat suitable for [[Eyrean grasswren]]s.<ref name=bli>BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Simpson Desert. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 2011-10-09.</ref>  Other animals which may be seen include the [[red kangaroo]], [[dingo]], [[gecko]]s and the [[Australian feral camel]]. With the falling of any significant rains comes a transformation of dormant wildflowers.

==Tourism==
Visitors are encouraged to visit from April to October to avoid extreme daytime temperatures and to travel within a two-vehicle party with long distance communications equipment.<ref name="xqnp"/> A [[4WD]] vehicle is needed to travel through the park.<ref name="asd">{{cite web |url=http://nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/munga-thirri/about.html |title=About Simpson Desert |date=30 January 2013 |publisher=Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing |access-date=7 September 2014 }}</ref> There are no roads in the park.  The main track is called the QAA Line. Winter mornings can be freezing, while summer temperatures can be as hot as 50°.<ref name="naq"/> Camping is permitted within 500&nbsp;m of the QAA Line. Vehicles are not permitted to leave the main track.

Park rangers who are based at Birdsville occasionally close the park when flooded rivers pose a risk to tourists.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/16/2516891.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723200248/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/16/2516891.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2012 |title=Flooding keeps outback national park closed |author=Chrissy Arthur |access-date=18 July 2010 |date=16 March 2009 |work=[[ABC News Online]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] }}</ref> Increasing tourist numbers have been depleting wood supplies to the point that native fauna could be affected. This has led to authorities encouraging the use of gas camp [[stove]]s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200507/1418934.htm?queensland |title=Ranger issues warning about Simpson Desert wood supplies |access-date=18 July 2010 |date=21 July 2005 |work=[[ABC Queensland]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] }}</ref>

==History==
[[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal peoples]] have lived in the region for generations. They survived in the dry conditions by digging [[soakage|soaks]] in the depressions between dunes, some of which were {{convert|7|m}} deep.

[[David Lindsay (explorer)|David Lindsay]] was the first non-Aboriginal person to cross the central and southern areas of the Simpson Desert in 1886.<ref name="naq"/>  In 1936 [[Ted Colson]] crossed the full length of the desert.<ref name="naq"/>

A national park in the desert was first suggested in 1965 by the [[National Parks Association of Queensland]].<ref name="herqldout">{{Cite book |title=Heritage Trails of the Queensland Outback |last=Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) |author-link=Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) |year=2002 |publisher=State of Queensland |isbn=0-7345-1040-3 |pages=133 }}</ref> The park was extended northwards in 1991. The expansion included arid lands with a more diverse range of vegetation.<ref name="herqldout"/>

{{as of|July 2019}}, the Head Ranger of the park is [[Aboriginal elder|Elder]] of the [[Wangkangurru]] people and [[traditional owner]] Don Rowlands {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}}, residing in [[Birdsville]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/ancient-oasis-revealing-secrets-after-more-than-a-century/11303530|title=Ancient oasis reveals secrets after more than a century|last=Ben|first=Deacon|date=13 July 2019|website=ABC Radio|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812064315/https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/ancient-oasis-revealing-secrets-after-more-than-a-century/11303530|archive-date=12 August 2019|url-status=live|access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Queensland}}
* [[Protected areas of Queensland]]
* [[Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park]]
* [[Simpson Desert Important Bird Area]]
* [[Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert Regional Reserve]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{National Parks of Queensland}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of Queensland]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1967]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Queensland]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Shire of Diamantina]]