The Devils Marbles are huge granite boulders scattered across a wide, shallow valley, 100 kilometres south of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.
This pic gives you an idea of just how big some of the Devil's Marbles are.
Many of the giant stones are precariously balanced on top of one another, appearing to defy gravity. But despite their age, even today they continue to crack and erode, creating an ever-changing landscape.
The Devil's Marbles almost seem to defy gravity.
Most guide books and brochures about the Australian Outback feature a picture of the Marbles. Or usually, only of two of the marbles, but I wonder how many people are aware that the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve is 1802 hectares (4453 acres) in size, and that there are heaps (no pun intended) of marbles there.
Most people think that there are only 2 Devil's Marbles but in reality there are many more.
So, how did the Devil's Marbles form?
Well, eons ago, an upsurge of molten rock regurgitated from under the earth's mantle, reached the surface, and spread out to settled into a single solid layer.
That one block of granite then developed horizontal and vertical cracks and split into many rectangular blocks. Then, erosion did what it always does, and wore away the edges.
You can see the later stages of that process all across the reserve. Some parts still hint at the original rectangular shapes yet some blocks have their corners worn off and some are totally rounded.
Some Devil's Marbles have their corners worn off and some are totally rounded.
The beauty of this is that every marble looks different. So much so that you can walk around for ages and always find new perspectives and interesting views.
The beauty of the Devil's Marbles is that they have many interesting perspectives.
Another plus is that the piles of granite boulders offer a variety of habitats for flora and fauna. Because there are exposed sunny areas, shady sides, and dark moist shelters, you essentially have a host of mini refuges for a range of sensitive plants and animals.
Cultural significance of the Devil's Marbles
The Devils Marbles are located in the traditional country of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. They call the Devils Marbles Karlu Karlu, which literally translates as ‘round boulders'.
The Devils Marbles have great significance for the Aboriginal people and, as such, most of the conservation reserve is protected under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act.
The Devils Marbles are of great cultural and spiritual significance to the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land, and the reserve protects one of the oldest religious sites in the world as well as the natural rock formations found there.
Country Around Devil's Marbles by Lindy Brodie
Karlu Karlu is the local Aboriginal term for both the rock features and the surrounding area. As stated earlier, the Aboriginal term translates as round boulders and refers to the large boulders found mainly in the western side of the reserve. The origin of the English name for the same boulders is found in the following quote by John Ross, in the Australian Overland Telegraph Line expedition of 1870...
"This is the Devil’s country; he’s even emptied his bag of marbles around the place! "
The area was originally named Devils Marbles Reserve in October 1961. The name was then changed to Devil's Marbles Conservation Reserve on 21 September 1979 under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. Then, in 1982, almost the entire reserve was registered as a sacred site by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority.
Ownership of Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles was officially passed from the Parks and Wildlife Service of the Northern Territory back to the Traditional Owners at a ceremony held on the reserve in October 2008. The reserve is now leased back to the Parks Service under a 99-year lease and the site is jointly managed by rangers and Traditional Owners. Visitor access has not been affected.
On 6 July 2011, the name Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve was assigned, corresponding with the joint management structure.
Ancient creation legends surrounding Karlu Karlu are passed from generation to generation by the traditional owners. Many of these stories are secret and only a few can be shared with visitors.
Aboriginal ladies at Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) beside a native fig tree. Traditional owners of the new park, to be jointly managed with PWCNT. - Photographer: David Hancock. Copyright: SkyScans.
One of the main Dreaming stories for the area which can be told to non-Aboriginal people relates to how the Devils Marbles were made. This tradition tells of 'Arrange', an ancient ancestor, who walked through the area. He made a hair-string belt, a type of traditional adornment, worn only by initiated Aboriginal men. As he was twirling the hair to make strings, he dropped clusters of hair on the ground which turned into the big red boulders. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, a hill called 'Ayleparrarntenhe', where the legend says he still lives today.
Karla Karlu / Devil's Marbles is a sacred site. For an unforgettable experience take a sunset walk amongst the large scattered rock spheres with the traditional custodians of this mysterious landscape.
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Among the most famous of Australian rocks, right up there with Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Olgas, the Devils Marbles are made of granite, and vary in size from 50 centimetres up to six metres across.
This pic gives you an idea of just how big some of the Devil's Marbles are.
Many of the giant stones are precariously balanced on top of one another, appearing to defy gravity. But despite their age, even today they continue to crack and erode, creating an ever-changing landscape.
The Devil's Marbles almost seem to defy gravity.
Most guide books and brochures about the Australian Outback feature a picture of the Marbles. Or usually, only of two of the marbles, but I wonder how many people are aware that the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve is 1802 hectares (4453 acres) in size, and that there are heaps (no pun intended) of marbles there.
Most people think that there are only 2 Devil's Marbles but in reality there are many more.
So, how did the Devil's Marbles form?
Well, eons ago, an upsurge of molten rock regurgitated from under the earth's mantle, reached the surface, and spread out to settled into a single solid layer.
That one block of granite then developed horizontal and vertical cracks and split into many rectangular blocks. Then, erosion did what it always does, and wore away the edges.
You can see the later stages of that process all across the reserve. Some parts still hint at the original rectangular shapes yet some blocks have their corners worn off and some are totally rounded.
Some Devil's Marbles have their corners worn off and some are totally rounded.
The beauty of this is that every marble looks different. So much so that you can walk around for ages and always find new perspectives and interesting views.
The beauty of the Devil's Marbles is that they have many interesting perspectives.
Another plus is that the piles of granite boulders offer a variety of habitats for flora and fauna. Because there are exposed sunny areas, shady sides, and dark moist shelters, you essentially have a host of mini refuges for a range of sensitive plants and animals.
Cultural significance of the Devil's Marbles
The Devils Marbles are located in the traditional country of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. They call the Devils Marbles Karlu Karlu, which literally translates as ‘round boulders'.
The Devils Marbles have great significance for the Aboriginal people and, as such, most of the conservation reserve is protected under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act.
The Devils Marbles are of great cultural and spiritual significance to the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land, and the reserve protects one of the oldest religious sites in the world as well as the natural rock formations found there.
Country Around Devil's Marbles by Lindy Brodie
Karlu Karlu is the local Aboriginal term for both the rock features and the surrounding area. As stated earlier, the Aboriginal term translates as round boulders and refers to the large boulders found mainly in the western side of the reserve. The origin of the English name for the same boulders is found in the following quote by John Ross, in the Australian Overland Telegraph Line expedition of 1870...
"This is the Devil’s country; he’s even emptied his bag of marbles around the place! "
The area was originally named Devils Marbles Reserve in October 1961. The name was then changed to Devil's Marbles Conservation Reserve on 21 September 1979 under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. Then, in 1982, almost the entire reserve was registered as a sacred site by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority.
Ownership of Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles was officially passed from the Parks and Wildlife Service of the Northern Territory back to the Traditional Owners at a ceremony held on the reserve in October 2008. The reserve is now leased back to the Parks Service under a 99-year lease and the site is jointly managed by rangers and Traditional Owners. Visitor access has not been affected.
On 6 July 2011, the name Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve was assigned, corresponding with the joint management structure.
Ancient creation legends surrounding Karlu Karlu are passed from generation to generation by the traditional owners. Many of these stories are secret and only a few can be shared with visitors.
Aboriginal ladies at Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) beside a native fig tree. Traditional owners of the new park, to be jointly managed with PWCNT. - Photographer: David Hancock. Copyright: SkyScans.
One of the main Dreaming stories for the area which can be told to non-Aboriginal people relates to how the Devils Marbles were made. This tradition tells of 'Arrange', an ancient ancestor, who walked through the area. He made a hair-string belt, a type of traditional adornment, worn only by initiated Aboriginal men. As he was twirling the hair to make strings, he dropped clusters of hair on the ground which turned into the big red boulders. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, a hill called 'Ayleparrarntenhe', where the legend says he still lives today.
Karla Karlu / Devil's Marbles is a sacred site. For an unforgettable experience take a sunset walk amongst the large scattered rock spheres with the traditional custodians of this mysterious landscape.
Sources:
http://www.australia.com/en/places/nt/devils-marbles.html
http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/devils-marbles.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlu_Karlu_/_Devils_Marbles_Conservation_Reserve
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