Witjira National Park, National park in South Australia, Australia
Witjira National Park is a nature reserve in the Australian desert covering approximately 7,770 square kilometers, where sand dunes, flat plains, and over 120 mound springs shape the landscape. The park contains diverse habitats where water naturally emerges at the surface in many locations.
Witjira National Park was proclaimed on 21 November 1985 to protect the Dalhousie Mound Springs complex, described as Australia's largest array of artesian springs. In 2007 it became the first protected area in South Australia with formal joint management between its traditional owners and the state government. On 26 November 2021, mining was permanently excluded from the Dalhousie Springs National Heritage Area.
The park is managed jointly by the Irrwanyere Aboriginal Corporation and the South Australian government, an arrangement made in 2007 that was the first of its kind for a protected area in the state. The Lower Southern Arrernte, Wangkangurru and Arabunnal peoples maintain traditional practices here alongside modern tourism.
Camping is possible in the park, but the German source stresses that safety notices must be followed. The park lies at the western end of the Simpson Desert near Oodnadatta, about 987 km north of Adelaide, so access is by remote outback roads.
The Dalhousie Springs feature a remarkable range of water temperatures where some sources offer comfortable swimming conditions while others like Purni Bore reach up to 85 degrees Celsius. These extreme differences result from varying depths and distances of underground water sources.
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