Devonian Reef, Ancient limestone reef formation in Kimberley region, Western Australia
The Devonian Reef is an ancient limestone system that stretches for hundreds of kilometers along the northern edge of the Canning Basin. The formation consists of several limestone ranges and is now protected within three national parks that together define the landscape.
About 380 million years ago this area lay beneath a shallow sea where limestone layers built up over 20 million years. The structure we see today shows the remains of that ancient ocean system as it gradually turned to stone.
The Bunuba Dawangarri people have lived in connection with this land for thousands of years and their presence shapes how the place is understood today. You can see evidence of their relationship to the landscape in the rock art and stories that mark the stone walls.
The area is accessible through several national parks all located near Fitzroy Crossing, each offering different entry points to the limestone system. Good shoes and plenty of water are important since the trails vary in difficulty and heat is a factor.
This system is one of the most complete ancient barrier reef systems visible on Earth and shows rare mineral structures. The rock formations contain layers that are rarely seen so completely preserved in one location.
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