Uluru rises 348 metres above the desert plain — taller than the Eiffel Tower, according to the BBC — yet it is only the tip of a much larger rock mass that extends perhaps 2.5 kilometres underground. But the significance of this sandstone giant goes far beyond geology: it is a living cultural landscape for the Anangu people, and a site of a landmark policy change that ended climbing in 2019. This article draws on official park records and independent reporting to explain what makes Uluru so special, why the climb was closed, and what lies beneath.
Last checked: 2026-08-18
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Location: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, Australia · Height: 348 m (taller than the Eiffel Tower) · Rock type: Red sandstone monolith · World Heritage status: UNESCO World Heritage-listed
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-08-18.
Sources reviewed: official park website, government museum site, Wikipedia, review platform, independent news outlets, geological reference database.
No on-site visit, no staff interview, no independent price or booking data were collected for this article.
Key facts at a glance
- 348 metres (taller than the Eiffel Tower) — BBC
- Approximately 2.5 km of the rock lies buried — EBSCO Research Starters
- Permanently closed from 26 October 2019 — Parks Australia
- Fell to 16.5%, triggering the closure criterion — National Museum of Australia
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Height | 348 m (taller than the Eiffel Tower) — BBC |
| Rock type | Red sandstone monolith |
| World Heritage status | UNESCO World Heritage-listed |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Height above ground | 348 m (1,142 ft) — BBC |
| Estimated underground depth | Up to 2.5 km — EBSCO |
| Climbing ban date | 26 October 2019 — Parks Australia |
| Base walk length | 10.6 km (Grade 3, ~3.5 hours) — Parks Australia |
| World Heritage listing | UNESCO World Heritage (1987, 1994) |
| Traditional Owners | Anangu people |
What is so special about Uluru?
Uluru’s distinctiveness rests on two pillars: its extraordinary geology and its deep cultural significance. Geologically, it is a red sandstone monolith that formed roughly 500 million years ago — older than the first dinosaurs. The rock’s smooth, rust-coloured surface comes from iron oxide in the arkosic sandstone, and its fluted sides are the result of millennia of wind and water erosion. Travelers driving from places like Glendambo on the Stuart Highway often remark how the landmark seems to rise out of nowhere from the flat desert.
“This rock means everything to us.”
— Anangu community representative, quoted by BBC
For the Anangu, the landscape is a living archive of the Tjukurpa (the creation period). Every crevice, waterhole, and cave painting tells a story. The park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in two stages — first for its natural values, then for its cultural landscape — a rare dual recognition. Visitors today can explore the 10.6 km base walk, which passes waterholes and ancient rock art, an experience the official Parks Australia site describes as Grade 3 and recommends doing in the early morning to avoid heat.
Uluru is not just a striking rock; it is one of the world’s most culturally layered natural monuments.
Why are tourists not allowed to climb Uluru anymore?
The climbing ban that took effect on 26 October 2019 was not a sudden decision. The Anangu had asked visitors not to climb since 1985, when the park was returned to their control, as reported by Reuters. Signs in six languages pleaded “Please don’t climb,” but many ignored the request. The park’s management plan included a formal trigger: the climb would be closed when fewer than 20% of visitors chose to do it. By 2015 that figure had dropped to 16.5%, according to the National Museum of Australia.
Safety and legal note: At least 37 people died while attempting the climb, and those who try now face penalties under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, as stated by Parks Australia.
History of the climb
Non-Indigenous climbing began in the 1930s, and a chain was installed in the 1960s–1970s to assist climbers on the steepest section. Reporting from The Guardian says the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Board voted unanimously in November 2017 to close the climb. The date was chosen to coincide with the 34th anniversary of the handback of the land to the Anangu.
Cultural and safety reasons
For the Anangu, climbing Uluru is a serious disrespect to their law. The path follows a route used by ancestral beings, and the summit is a sacred place. Combined with the high death toll and many rescue incidents, the grounds for closure were overwhelming. On 25 October 2019, the final ascent took place; the next day the metal chain was dismantled, as BBC reported.
The closure was the culmination of a decades-long cultural request, a data-driven trigger, and a safety imperative.
Is Uluru older than dinosaurs?
Yes — by a wide margin. Geologists estimate the sandstone that forms Uluru was deposited around 500 million years ago, during the Cambrian period. EBSCO Research Starters notes that the rock is composed of coarse-grained arkosic sandstone that accumulated in a shallow inland sea. This predates the earliest dinosaurs, which appeared roughly 230 million years ago, by more than 250 million years.
Geological formation process
The rock originally rested horizontally. Tectonic forces tilted it nearly 90 degrees, and subsequent erosion removed the softer surrounding material, exposing the hard sandstone we see today. The surface oxidised to its characteristic red-brown colour over millennia. While the exact age span varies among sources — with some citing 550–530 million years — the consensus places its origin well before the Mesozoic.
Age estimates come from indirect geological dating; no official primary source in the research pack pins down an exact number, but all point to a formation date long before the age of dinosaurs.
How much of Uluru is buried underground?
One of the most frequently repeated “fun facts” about Uluru is that most of its bulk lies beneath the surface. EBSCO Research Starters states that the monolith extends about 2.5 kilometres underground — more than seven times its visible height. This claim, while widely circulated, should be treated with some caution: the exact subsurface extent has not been confirmed by direct drilling or seismic imaging in the public domain.
What lies beneath
Geologists believe the structure continues as a large “root” of folded rock. The visible 348-metre mound is only the tip. Erosion over hundreds of millions of years has worn away the surrounding landscape, leaving Uluru and the nearby Kata Tjuta domes as time-eroded remnants of a much larger rock mass. Travellers staying at outback pubs like the Cradock Hotel in the Flinders Ranges might notice similar exposed ridges — though none on Uluru’s scale.
While the “2.5 km underground” figure is cited by secondary sources and widely used, it is not a measurement published by Parks Australia itself.
en.wikipedia.org, ulurutoursaustralia.com.au, dcceew.gov.au, abc.net.au, nationalgeographic.com, uluru.com, nationalgeographic.com, en.wikipedia.org, abc.net.au, bbc.com, cnn.com, uluru.gov.au, bbc.com, tourismandleisurestudies.com, theconversation.com
Frequently asked questions about Uluru
Why isn’t it called Ayers Rock anymore?
In 1993 the rock was officially dual-named “Ayers Rock / Uluru.” The order was reversed in 2002 to “Uluru / Ayers Rock” as a sign of respect for the Anangu people. Today the official name used by Parks Australia is simply Uluru.
Is Uluru part of the 7 Wonders of the World?
No. Uluru is not listed among the official New7Wonders of the World (announced in 2007) nor the ancient Seven Wonders. However, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is considered one of Australia’s most iconic natural landmarks.
Can you touch Uluru?
Yes — but you cannot climb it. Visitors are free to walk the base trail and touch the rock at ground level. There are no signs banning touch. The Anangu ask that visitors do not remove any rocks or sand.
What happens if I climb Uluru?
Climbing after the 2019 ban is a breach of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Parks Australia issues penalties to anyone attempting the climb. Additionally, the path has been partly dismantled and the chain removed, making the climb physically unsafe even if one ignores the law.
Can Aboriginal people climb Uluru?
The ban applies to all visitors. However, the Traditional Owners, the Anangu, do not climb because the route is culturally sacred. Their own law (Tjukurpa) discourages it, and they have not sought an exemption for themselves.
Has tourism dropped at Uluru since the climb closed?
While precise overall visitor numbers are not in the research materials, the proportion of visitors who climbed fell from roughly 75% in the 1990s to 16.5% by 2015. The park continues to draw tourists for the base walk, cultural tours, and sunrise/sunset viewing — suggesting that the closure did not deter the vast majority.
Who was the last person to climb Uluru?
No single individual has been officially named as the last climber. News reports confirm that the final ascent occurred on 25 October 2019 — the day before the permanent closure — when many people made the climb, but no record of a “last person” has been published by park authorities.