Week 36/52- Part1 - see the Kimberley from the air

Hi everyone and welcome to Part 1 of Week 36 of our 52 week tour through Western Australia. This week we are in Kununurra in the far north east of the Kimberley - There is so much to show you, that week 36 will be in 2 parts.

First off we will take a flight over Kununurra, Lake Argyle and the Ord River Dam, Purnululu and the Argyle Diamond Mine - so fasten your seatbelts - and up up we go. Please excuse the quality of some of the photos - I was trying to take them through a scratchy window!

Kununurra was established in 1960 on the banks of the Ord River as the centre for the Ord River Irrigation project. Up to 2000 hectares of irrigated land, known as the Packsaddle Plains, surrounds Kununurra. Farming is predominantly sandalwood trees, mangoes, bananas, melons and tropical vegetables, flowers and herbs.

From Western Australia

The life blood of Kununurra comes from Lake Argyle and the Ord River Dam. Lake Argyle is officially classed as an inland sea - its normal capacity is 10.8 billion cub mitres, but at flood levels it triples to about 34.7 billion cubic metres. The Lake is approx 55km long by 30km wide. As well as supplying water to the Ord Irrigation Scheme, a hydroelectric power station generates electricity for Kununurra, Wyndham and the Argyle Diamond Mine.

From Western Australia

We visited Purnululu National Park (the Bungle Bugles) on foot in Week 35. Now you can see it from the air.

From Western Australia

From Western Australia

As promised a few more photos from our plane flight -

here we see the edge of Purnululu with the flat plains beyond

From Western Australia

and mountain ranges. Cattle stations out here cover thousands of acres. Many are staffed by a caretaker for many months of the year - the only time staff increases is when cattle mustering is underway. The Kimberley supports the largest number of cattle in the State. The cattle population is approx 531,000 in the Kimberley. One station, Texas Downs, we were told is so isolated and inaccessible that it was only recently that vehicles could get in - before that it was on horseback or helicopter.

From Western Australia

Here we see the Argyle Diamond Mine - the world's largest supplier of diamonds - approximately one quarter of the worlds production. The mine started mining its main ore body in 1985 and employs approx 800 employees. Diamonds from Argyle come in a range of colours including white, champagne and pink.

From Western Australia

In week 35 I showed you some of Piccaninny Gorge in the Purnululu (Bungle Bungles) National Park from the ground - here it is from the air - the further you walk in the narrower the gorge gets. You can take an overnight hike and camp out in the gorge - I would love to do it - maybe next time if we come more prepared...

From Western Australia

On the edge of Purnululu...

From Western Australia

and the mighty Ord River - in part 2 of week 36 we will take a cruise down the Ord - I hope you will join me then.

From Western Australia