Hundreds of tourists made the final ascent of Australia's Uluru on Friday, ahead of a permanent ban on climbing the sacred monolith that takes effect from Saturday. The climb, once known as Ayers Rock, will be off limits to visitors, with fines of up to 53,000 Australian dollars for those who breach the new rules.
The ban, announced in 2017, was unanimously voted for by the board of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park due to the spiritual significance of the site to the indigenous Anangu people, as well as safety and environmental concerns. Only 16% of visitors climbed the rock in 2017, but the final weeks saw packed queues, with photos drawing comparisons to Mount Everest.
The climb has been hazardous, with dozens of deaths since the 1950s due to dehydration, heat-related events, and falls. Last year, a Japanese tourist died while attempting one of the steepest sections. On Friday, strong winds delayed the start, but hundreds still made the trek.
Anangu elder Rameth Thomas told the BBC that Uluru is a 'very sacred place, like our church,' expressing frustration at the lack of respect from climbers. Park rangers removed signs urging visitors not to climb, marking the end of a long fight by traditional owners. One Aboriginal elder said it was time for the rock to 'rest and heal.'
As the final climbers descended, some expressed exhilaration, while others hoped the ban would be overturned. The closure is not expected to significantly affect visitor numbers, though nearby campgrounds and hotels were fully booked, leading to illegal camping and waste dumping.
The Anangu believe Uluru is the physical evidence of ancestral beings' feats during the creation time. One story tells of Lungkata, a greedy blue-tongue lizard, whose burnt body left a mark on the rock after being punished for stealing meat.
