The largest dune, Nappanerica or Big Red, is in height. ==History== ===Aboriginal history=== The Wangkangurru people lived in the Simpson Desert using hand-dug wells called mikiri from long before European colonisation up until the Federation Drought. ===Post-colonisation=== The explorer Charles Sturt, who visited the region from 1844 to 1846, was the first European to see the desert.
The largest dune, Nappanerica or Big Red, is in height. ==History== ===Aboriginal history=== The Wangkangurru people lived in the Simpson Desert using hand-dug wells called mikiri from long before European colonisation up until the Federation Drought. ===Post-colonisation=== The explorer Charles Sturt, who visited the region from 1844 to 1846, was the first European to see the desert.
In 1880 Augustus Poeppel, a surveyor with the South Australian Survey Department determined the border between Queensland and South Australia to the west of Haddon Corner and in doing so marked the corner point where the States of Queensland and South Australia meet the Northern Territory.
In 1884, surveyor Larry Wells moved the post to its proper position on the eastern bank of Lake Poeppel.
In January 1886 surveyor David Lindsay ventured into the desert from the western edge, in the process discovering and documenting, with the help of a Wangkangurru Aboriginal man, nine native wells and travelling as far east as the Queensland/Northern Territory border. In 1936 Ted Colson became the first non-indigenous person to cross the desert in its entirety, riding camels.
In January 1886 surveyor David Lindsay ventured into the desert from the western edge, in the process discovering and documenting, with the help of a Wangkangurru Aboriginal man, nine native wells and travelling as far east as the Queensland/Northern Territory border. In 1936 Ted Colson became the first non-indigenous person to cross the desert in its entirety, riding camels.
There are tracks that were created during seismic surveys in the search for gas and oil during the 1960s and 1970s.
Mr Simpson was the owner of the Simpson washing machine company. In September 1962 geologist Reg Sprigg, his wife Griselda, and their two children completed the first vehicular crossing of the desert. In 1984, Dennis Bartel was the first white man to successfully walk solo and unsupported west-to-east across the Simpson, 390 km in 24 days, relying on old Aboriginal wells for water.
There are tracks that were created during seismic surveys in the search for gas and oil during the 1960s and 1970s.
Before 1980, a section of the Commonwealth Railways Central Australian line passed along the western side of the Simpson Desert. ==Visitor attraction== The desert is popular with tourists, particularly in winter, and popular landmarks include the ruins and mound springs at Dalhousie Springs, Purnie Bore wetlands, Approdinna Attora Knoll and Poeppel Corner (where Queensland, South Australia and Northern Territory meet).
Mr Simpson was the owner of the Simpson washing machine company. In September 1962 geologist Reg Sprigg, his wife Griselda, and their two children completed the first vehicular crossing of the desert. In 1984, Dennis Bartel was the first white man to successfully walk solo and unsupported west-to-east across the Simpson, 390 km in 24 days, relying on old Aboriginal wells for water.
In 2006 Lucas Trihey was the first non-indigenous person to walk across the desert through the geographical centre away from vehicle tracks and unsupported.
In 2008, Michael Giacometti completed the first, and only, east-to-west walk across the Simpson Desert.
Because of the excessive heat and inadequately experienced drivers attempting to access the desert in the past, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has decided since 2008–2009 to close the Simpson Desert during the summer – to save unprepared "adventurers" from themselves. The desert can also be crossed by bicycle.
Winters are generally cool, however, heatwaves even in the middle of July are not unheard of. Some of the heaviest rain in decades occurred during 2009–2010, and has seen the Simpson Desert burst into life and colour.
In early March 2010, Birdsville recorded more rain in 24 hours than is usual in a whole year.
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Page generated on 2021-08-05