Kata Tjuta

Kata Tjuta, also Olga Rocks, monolithic rocks in Australia in the southwestern part of the Northern Territory. Situated just west of Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Kata Tjuta (Aboriginal for “place of many heads”) rises steeply from the surrounding plains. The landform ascends in rounded peaks to an elevation of 1,069 m (3,507 ft) above sea level. The highest peak, Mount Olga, rises 546 m (1,791 ft) from its base on the plain. The group is spread over an area with a circumference of 22 km (14 mi) and is made of red cemented conglomerate, a mixture of different kinds of gravel. The troughs between individual peaks are deep enough to store moisture, allowing for lush vegetation despite a very dry climate. Like Uluru, Kata Tjuta occupies an important place in Aboriginal mythology, and also draws many tourists. Mount Olga was named in 1872 by British explorer Ernest Giles after Queen Olga of Württemberg, a region in Germany.