MOUNT KOSCIUSZKO
Mount Kosciuszko is the tallest point is located in the Snowy Mountain region of New South Wales, and is the tallest point in Australia at 2228 metres.
HOW WAS IT FORMED
When Australia was covered by water about 520 million years ago, the Snowy Mountain region (including Mount Kosciusko) began its formation as it was covered in thick layers of mud, rock and sandstone. The layers kept covering each other and formed the sedimentary bases of the mountains. The mountains were lifted from the sea and moved along a fault line created by collisions of smaller tectonic plates. This added to the mountain as well. Unlike most of Australia, Mount Kosciusko is in a snowy area, and usually has snow on it, even in summer.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Due to a climate change in the area over the last 2 million years, the mountain have sections covered in glaciers, especially along the crest of the mountain. These were formed in the most recent ice age, and were the only glaciers on mainland Australia. There are 13 points on the mountains where the glaciers are deep enough to create ‘glacial lakes’. With the temperatures staying from -6˚C in mid-winter to only 21˚C in summer, the glaciers are able to stay almost year round.
These glaciers have also created Lake Cootaptamba; the highest lake on Australia’s mainland. When ice of the glaciers spilt from the southern end of the mountain, it fell in a bowl-like shape and scraped into the rock, making the lake.
HOW WAS IT FORMED
When Australia was covered by water about 520 million years ago, the Snowy Mountain region (including Mount Kosciusko) began its formation as it was covered in thick layers of mud, rock and sandstone. The layers kept covering each other and formed the sedimentary bases of the mountains. The mountains were lifted from the sea and moved along a fault line created by collisions of smaller tectonic plates. This added to the mountain as well. Unlike most of Australia, Mount Kosciusko is in a snowy area, and usually has snow on it, even in summer.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Due to a climate change in the area over the last 2 million years, the mountain have sections covered in glaciers, especially along the crest of the mountain. These were formed in the most recent ice age, and were the only glaciers on mainland Australia. There are 13 points on the mountains where the glaciers are deep enough to create ‘glacial lakes’. With the temperatures staying from -6˚C in mid-winter to only 21˚C in summer, the glaciers are able to stay almost year round.
These glaciers have also created Lake Cootaptamba; the highest lake on Australia’s mainland. When ice of the glaciers spilt from the southern end of the mountain, it fell in a bowl-like shape and scraped into the rock, making the lake.