Painted Desert, Geological formation in Far North, South Australia.
The Painted Desert is a desert landscape in Far North South Australia featuring colorful sedimentary hills. The terrain displays striking bands of yellow, orange, red, and brown across multiple cliffs and flat-topped ridges, created by different mineral compositions.
The landscape formed from an ancient seabed roughly 80 million years ago when geological forces lifted the terrain. Erosion then carved out the Arckaringa Hills, exposing the colorful layers visible today.
The region carries the name Arckaringa, reflecting generations of pastoral life that shaped how people live and work here. Visitors can see how cattle farming remains woven into daily life, alongside efforts to protect the land's geological character.
Access to the landscape is best through guided flights from William Creek, Coober Pedy, or Arkaroola, with lodging available at Arckaringa Homestead. The dry season offers the best conditions for visiting, when roads are passable and temperatures are more moderate.
The Mirackina Range within this landscape marks the southernmost population of Australia's largest monitor lizard species. These big reptiles thrive in the extreme conditions of this remote region because of their exceptional adaptation to heat and aridity.
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