TOP END IN THE WET
The headline is”Australian” for the rainy season in Darwin.
Darwin, the capital of the Northern territories is far closer to Jakarta, Bali, and Singapore than it is to Sydney and Melbourne. It is at 12 degrees latitude, well into the tropical portion of the world. I came here to see a different and little known part of the country and to be in position to take the Ghan train straight south to Alice Springs.
| Flowering tree in Darwin |
As far as historical structures and such, there are very few due to a devastating Christmas day 1974 cyclone that leveled 95% of all structures here. They say that they have rebuilt to withstand another one, which may explain the rather utilitarian feeling to the architecture.
There are a number of memorials to WW 2 as this is the only Australian city to withstand significant bombing. To this day, there is a major military presence.
And, it rains every day at least once in the wet season. As in any tropical place, one is amazed that it can move from sunny into a cloudburst with little notice, pour like all get out for 20-30 minutes, then clear up and the streets and all will be dry within 30 minutes.
This is also home territory to the famous Aussie salt water crocks. The warnings are all over as this thing can be up to 15-20’ long and is always in a bad mood it seems. And they are fine in salt or fresh water, sometimes hundreds of miles from the coast. Supposedly they can wash up onto the streets after severe rains, but that may be a crowd control “story.”
I saw one in an aquarium and it was really quite scary. Giant, and can stay motionless for ages.
| Friendly looking chap, huh? Nice thick glass between us. |
So, what do Top Enders like to do? (Besides drink beer, I mean) Go swimming in swimming holes in the parks and forests! Yes, they go swimming in waterfall pools and such along with the crocks in some cases. Fortunately the authorities are quite thorough in their examination of these areas for crock safety and quick to put up the warning signs.
Being a wimp, I stayed fully clothed and totally on the trails.
Being a wimp, I stayed fully clothed and totally on the trails.
| A billabong |
| Wangi Falls, Litchfield Nat. park. |
| Another view of Wangi Falls. |
| Litchfield national park |
| These are called magnetic termite mounds. They can be up to 7′ tall, and are always angled north to south as a means of regulating heat in the burrow. Looks like a giant graveyard. |
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| Located in the same area are these giant Cathedral termite mounds. Up to 15′ high, and if you get very close, they are amazingly active. |
| A cathedral mound behind a magnetic one. Good to show the scale of each. |
| Yes, it must rain amazing amounts as you see these everywhere in low spots in the Top End. Cheaper than bridges, and you know approaching it how deep it is. Note that it goes deeper than my car is high. |