Three Sisters, Rock formation in Blue Mountains, Australia.
The Three Sisters are a formation of three sandstone peaks in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, standing close together along a ridge above the Jamison Valley. The peaks are separated by deep clefts and appear in different shapes from various vantage points, with the easternmost spire rising slightly taller than the other two.
The formation began around 200 million years ago when the area lay underwater and sediments settled, later turning into sandstone. Erosion from wind, rain, and frost carved the three individual peaks from the original cliff face over millions of years.
The Gundungurra refer to these three peaks with names passed down through generations: Meehni, Wimlah, and Gunnedoo. Visitors today encounter a formation that carries meaning both in local tradition and in the experience of travelers from around the world.
Visitors reach the main viewpoint at Echo Point, from where the three peaks are clearly visible, and can then walk down the Giant Stairway into the valley if they are prepared for the climb back up. The descent and return require good physical fitness, as several hundred steps must be taken.
The formation received official recognition as an Aboriginal Place in 2014, a legal classification in New South Wales that protects sites of special meaning to indigenous people. It was the 98th site to receive this status and is now one of the most visited among them.
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