Gibraltar Range
{{Short description|Mountain range in Australia}}
{{distinguish|Mount Gibraltar|Gibraltar Mountain (disambiguation)|Gibraltar Peak (Canberra)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox mountain
|name = Gibraltar
|other_name =
|photo =
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|photo_caption =
|parent = Great Dividing Range
|listing = Mountains in New South Wales
|country = Australia
|region_type = State
|region = New South Wales
|border =
|biome =
|topo_map =
|topo_maker =
|highest = Summit Mountain (New South Wales)
|highest_location =
|elevation_m = 1170
|elevation_system = {{AHD}}
|coordinates = {{coord|29|29|S|152|21|E|type:mountain_region:AU-NSW|format=dms|display=inline}}
|coordinates_ref = {{NSW GNR|id=TRlpWyxOJP|title=Summit Mountain|access-date=6 May 2015}}
|length_km = 100
|width_km =
|area_km2 =
|length_orientation = ENE / NNE
|width_orientation =
|width_ref =
|area_ref =
|range_coordinates = {{coord|29|30|S|152|17|E|type:mountain_region:AU-NSW|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|formed_by =
|geology =
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|map = New South Wales
|map_alt =
|map_caption = Location of the Gibraltar Range in New South Wales
|map_relief = 1
|relief =
}}
The Gibraltar Range is a mountain range in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. The range extends off the Great Dividing Range at Bald Nob about {{convert|25|km}} east northeast of {{NSWcity|Glen Innes}} and trends generally east northeast and north northeast for about {{convert|100|km}} to the junction of Timbarra and Clarence rivers. It forms the watershed between these two rivers.{{NSW GNR|id=MajLlMKmGH|title=Gibraltar Range|access-date=9 October 2013}}
Within the range is the Gibraltar Range National Park. Mines in the area have produced amalgamated ores of titanium, tin, gold, nickel, rhodium and iron. Recently, there have been forest fires or threats of forest fires in the Gibraltar Range.
Location and features
The Gibraltar Range is located in the northeastern part of New South Wales.{{Cite book|page=23|title=HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION, 1995, BIOLOGY, 2 UNIT|date=1995|url=http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_exams/hsc2000exams/hsc00_biology/95BIOLGY.PDF|location=New South Wales|publisher=NSW Board of Studies}} The mountain range is the site of the Gibraltar Range National Park, one of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.{{cite web|title=Gibraltar Range National Park|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/nationalparks/parkhome.aspx?id=N0012|work=environment.nsw.gov.au|publisher=Office of Environment & Heritage|access-date=28 October 2012}} The mountains are found in the Clarence Valley Council area.{{cite web|url=http://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/metro/page.asp?p=DOC-UZW-85-76-78 |title=About council :: Clarence Valley Council |publisher=Clarence.nsw.gov.au |access-date=2012-10-26}} The range is inland of Grafton.{{cite book|author1=Murray, Jon|author2=Smallman, Tom|author3=Willett, David|title=New South Wales|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780864424648|url-access=registration|access-date=26 October 2012|date=1 November 1997|publisher=Lonely Planet Publications|isbn=978-0-86442-464-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780864424648/page/274 274]}} The Gwydir Highway runs through the range and its national park.{{cite book|author1=Murray, Jon|author2=Smallman, Tom|author3=Willett, David|title=New South Wales|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=weXA3qle2jsC&q=Gibraltar+Ranges|date=1 November 1997|publisher=Lonely Planet Publications|isbn=978-0-86442-464-8|page=276}}
The Gibraltar Range is defined by its high ridges and steep valleys that intersect plateaus.{{cite book|author1=Burek, Cynthia V.|author2=Prosser, Colin D.|title=The History of Geoconservation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yjSQXcQnA_cC&pg=PA292|year=2008|publisher=Geological Society|isbn=978-1-86239-254-0|page=292}} They were created in the middle of the Palaeozoic Era. Volcanoes found in the range date to the Late Permian (Lopingian) Epoch, with granite in the range dating to the Permo-Triassic. In the range are volcanic intrusions. They can be seen in "intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks which clearly pre-date the Great Escarpment."{{cite book|author1=Adam, Paul|author2=New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service|title=New South Wales rainforests: the nomination for the world heritage list|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=etUOAQAAMAAJ|year=1987|publisher=National Parks and Wildlife Service of N.S.W.|isbn=978-0-7305-2075-7|page=18}}
The Gibraltar Range receives much rain.{{cn|date=August 2022}} There is a surface water measurement station found in the range at Dandahra Creek that was opened on 10 May 1972.{{cite web|url=http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/availability/swms/swms-204056.html |title=Water Resources - Availability - Surface Water Measurement Station |publisher=Anra.gov.au |date=2009-05-13 |access-date=2012-10-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603180616/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/availability/swms/swms-204056.html |archive-date=2011-06-03 }} The area has a mean annual rainfall of {{convert|1146|mm}} with a mean annual run-off of {{convert|624|mm}} and mean annual run-off as a percentage of annual rainfall of {{convert|54|mm}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/availability/ms/ms-204056.html |title=Water Resources - Availability - MS |publisher=Anra.gov.au |date=2009-06-07 |access-date=2012-10-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603180824/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/availability/ms/ms-204056.html |archive-date=2011-06-03 }} The ranges have rock outcroppings and heath. The range is also home to mallee ecosystems.{{cite web|url=http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/assessment/nsw/ibra-net-natural-values.html |title=Biodiversity Assessment - New England Tableland - Natural Values |publisher=Anra.gov.au |date=2009-06-15 |access-date=2012-10-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603144129/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/assessment/nsw/ibra-net-natural-values.html |archive-date=2011-06-03 }} The area is a Northeast Forest Lands.{{cite web|url=http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/assessment/qld/ibra-net-natural-values.html |title=Biodiversity Assessment - New England Tableland - Natural Values |publisher=Anra.gov.au |date=2009-06-15 |access-date=2012-10-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603153610/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/assessment/qld/ibra-net-natural-values.html |archive-date=2011-06-03 }} Amalgamated ores of titanium, tin, gold, nickel, rhodium and iron are found within the range.
Thickly forested highland areas cover part of the mountains, and there are isolated populations of Waratah.{{cite book|author=Hutton, Geoffrey |title=Australia's natural heritage|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VvPaAAAAMAAJ&q=Gibraltar+Ranges|access-date=26 October 2012|year=1981|publisher=Australian Conservation Foundation|isbn=978-0-85802-063-4|page=86}} The rufous scrub-bird lives in the Gibraltar Range, although its population was slightly reduced due to a fire in 2002.{{cite book|author1=Garnett, Stephen|author2=Szabo, Judit|author3=Dutson, Guy|title=The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KixK4CZQZp0C&pg=PA284|year=2012|publisher=Csiro Publishing|isbn=978-0-643-10368-9|page=284}} The mountain range is also home to the Parma wallaby.{{cite book|author=Australian Mammal Society|title=Australian Mammal Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ViheynJhangC&pg=PA29|date=June 1991|publisher=Australian Mammal Society|page=29}} During the 1850s, European fruit trees flourished at the base of the range.
Recent history
In the 1850s, there were mines in the mountains. In 1890s and 1900s, an area of the mountain range had been reserved for forestry.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61270040 |title=Reserved For Timber |newspaper=Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1889 - 1915) |location=Grafton, NSW |date=7 May 1895 |access-date=26 October 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61383874 |title=Gazette Notifications. |newspaper=Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1889 - 1915) |location=Grafton, NSW |date=25 November 1902 |access-date=26 October 2012 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} Construction of the first "sealed road" over the mountain range began in 1960. It allowed the first bicycle race from the town of Grafton on the East Coast to the town of Inverell on the Northern Tablelands.{{cite web|title=Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic History |url=http://www.graftontoinverellcycleclassic.com.au/history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025094243/http://www.graftontoinverellcycleclassic.com.au/history/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2011 |work=graftontoinverellcycleclassic.com |publisher=Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic |access-date=28 October 2012 }} In 2002, forest fires were burning in the Gibraltar Ranges.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/18/1034561315105.html |title=New alert as 40 fires rage across state |publisher=smh.com.au |date=2002-10-19 |access-date=2012-10-26}} In late 2007, two prison escapees were last spotted near the ranges and the police were looking for them.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-12-06/hunt-continues-for-jail-escapees/979190 |title=Hunt continues for jail escapees - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2007-12-06 |access-date=2012-10-26}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/30/2106271.htm?site=idx-nsw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228044010/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/30/2106271.htm?site=idx-nsw |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 February 2015 |title=Hunt for violent prison escapees intensifies - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2007-11-30 |access-date=2012-10-26}} In October 2009, parts of the Gibraltar Range were closed because of the potential for bushfires.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-10-02/north-coast-crews-anticipate-fire-threat/1088506 |title=North coast crews anticipate fire threat - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2009-10-02 |access-date=2012-10-26}}
References
{{stack|{{portal|New South Wales|Mountains}}}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://maps.google.com/?q=-29.537619,152.330933&num=1&t=h&z=20 Google map of Gibraltar Range, New South Wales, Australia]
{{New South Wales mountains |state=autocollapse}}