Curtain Fig National Park
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = protected
| name = Curtain Fig National Park
| state = Qld
| iucn_category = II
| image =
| caption =
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| coordinates = {{coord|17|16|57|S|145|34|22|E|display=inline,title}}
| force_national_map =
| relief =
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| nearest_town_or_city = Yungaburra
| area = {{Convert|1.95|km2|sqmi|3|abbr=on}}
| area_footnotes =
| established = 28 November 2008
| established_footnotes =
| visitation_num = 100 000 per year
| visitation_year =
| visitation_footnotes =
| managing_authorities = Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
| url = https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/curtain-fig/
}}
The Curtain Fig National Park is a national park on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. The National Park is located near Yungaburra.{{cite web |url=https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/curtain-fig/ |title=Curtain Fig National Park|author= |website= Queensland Government Parks and Forests |publisher= Queensland Department of Environment & Science |access-date=2019-12-08 }} Its most valued features are its once regionally common, now endangered Mabi forests including a huge strangler fig which attracts up to 100 000 visitors per year, locally known as the Curtain Fig Tree, plus a near threatened, locally endemic tree-kangaroo species i.e. the Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo which finds refuge inside this protected area{{cite report |author=Queensland Department of National Parks; Recreation; Sport and Racing |date=June 2013|title=Yungaburra and Curtain Fig national parks Management Statement 2013 |url=https://qldgov.softlinkhosting.com.au/liberty/opac/search.do?mode=ADVANCED&corporation=DERM&action=search&anonymous=true&queryTerm=yungaburra+national+park+management+statement&highlightTerms=management&highlightTerms=national&highlightTerms=park&highlightTerms=statement&highlightTerms=yungaburra&includeNonPhysicalItems=true&operator=AND# |publisher=State of Queensland}}
Park is located at 720 metres above sea level.{{Cite web |last=Science |first=jurisdiction=Queensland; sector=government; corporateName=Department of Environment and |date=2009-10-20 |title=Visiting safely {{!}} Curtain Fig National Park |url=https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/curtain-fig/visiting-safely |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=Parks and forests {{!}} Department of Environment and Science, Queensland |language=en-AU}}
Geology
Curtain Fig National Park lies within an area where, more than 350 000 years ago, volcanic activity erupted basalt from seven vents, forming the seven cinder cones{{Cite journal|last1=Whitehead|first1=P. W.|last2=Stephenson|first2=P. J.|last3=McDougall|first3=I.|last4=Hopkins|first4=M. S.|last5=Graham|first5=A. W.|last6=Collerson|first6=K. D.|last7=Johnson|first7=D. P.|date=2007|title=Temporal development of the Atherton Basalt Province, north Queensland|journal=Australian Journal of Earth Sciences|language=en|volume=54|issue=5|pages=691–709|doi=10.1080/08120090701305236|bibcode=2007AuJES..54..691W |s2cid=140645798 |issn=0812-0099}} locally known as the Seven Sisters now surrounding the National Park. The eruptions of basalt from the Seven Sisters were responsible for the large basalt boulders littering the National Park's floor, also the National Park's and surrounding area's rich, fertile soils.
Flora
This Curtain Fig National Park's fertile basalt soil now grows locally endemic, endangered upland semi-evergreen notophyll vine forest known as Mabi forest interspersed with two other endangered regional ecosystems, namely some open woodland with associated sedge, plus some open forest with associated grasslands.
The National Park protects a fragmented endangered remnant of the Atherton Tablelands' once prominent Mabi forests, including within, threatened Lacewood (Firmiana papuana) and pink leaf haplostichanthus (Haplostichanthus), {{cite web |url=https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/components/species/?haplostichanthus |title=Haplostichanthus |author= |website=WetlandInfo |publisher=Queensland Department of Environment and Science |access-date=2019-12-10 }} plus vulnerable waratah (Alloxylon flammeum) and red-fruited sauropus (Sauropus macranthus) trees.
The Curtain Fig Tree after which the National Park has been named, is a green strangling fig (Ficus virens) which is deciduous and drops its leaves mid year (the cooler months), also hosting a large range of birds, bats, insects, possums, and other mammals which feed and feast off the fig's red fruit and fleshy leaves
Fauna
Among the animals in the park, various species of insects, mammals and reptiles can be found. For example, there are Leaf-tailed geckos, Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo and many possums.{{Cite web |last=Science |first=jurisdiction=Queensland; sector=government; corporateName=Department of Environment and |date=2009-10-20 |title=About {{!}} Curtain Fig National Park |url=https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/curtain-fig/about |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=Parks and forests {{!}} Department of Environment and Science, Queensland |language=en-AU}}
See also
{{Portal|Queensland}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Far North Queensland}}
{{National Parks of Queensland}}
Category:National parks of Far North Queensland
Category:Protected areas established in 2008
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