What is Australia's highest point? And what is the lowest?

It is enough to google or look at the atlas to make sure that the highest point in Australia is the mountain of Kostsyushko. But with this name we have associations that are not geographic, but historical. Everyone knows that Tadeusz Kosciuszko is a prominent military and political figure of the national liberation movement in Poland during the French Revolution. What does a mountain in distant Australia have in common with a fighter for the independence of a European country? Let's consider this issue in more detail.

"Imported names"

Australia - the mainland, discovered by Europeans only in 1606, is replete with names brought from the Old World. There are both the state of New South Wales and Cape York. Even the mountain system, which houses the highest point in Australia, is called the Australian Alps. So in the name of Kostsyushko there is nothing surprising. The names of outstanding people on the Green Continent are the Victoria Desert (after the Queen), the island of Tasmania and many other geographical objects. But the vast majority of celebrities who got into maps and atlases, were English. And among them, only one Pole "crocheted". As a rule, geographical objects - rivers, mountains and islands - received a name in honor of their pioneers. So it happened with the top of Kosciuszko. Of course, it was discovered not by the supreme commander-in-chief of the Polish troops, but by geologist and geographer Pavel Edmund Strzelecki in 1840. And as a pathetic patriot of his country, he decided to call the conquered summit the name of the leader of the uprising for the independence of his fatherland.

Sad mistake

If you, climbing the mountain of Kostsyushko, think that you are following the tracks of the Polish pioneer Pavel Edmund Strzelecki, then you will be cruelly mistaken. He was never on this top. But subdued the neighboring - Townsend, with a height of 2210 meters. "How so?" - you ask. "How could a geologist call one mountain, staying on top of another?" Very simple. Townsend seemed to him higher in the series of the Great Divided Range in general and the Australian Alps in particular. And since he wanted to perpetuate the name of the Polish revolutionary in the highest mountain of the continent, he also undertook the ascent to this summit. Later, with the help of measuring instruments, an error was detected. It turned out that Australia's highest point is Mount Townsend: 2228 meters above sea level.

Reverence to the pioneer

The difference of eighteen meters did not seem to the officials from the land department of New South Wales (in this state are located Kosciusko and Townsend) significant. If the Pole really wanted the highest peak of Australia to bear the name of the leader of the Rzeczpospolita uprising for independence, and also the participant in the war for freedom of the USA, then so be it. And because they decided to change the names of the two mountains by their decree. So, the peak on which Strzelecki visited was called Townsend, and the neighboring higher, Kostsyushko.

Other names

The Aborigines of Australia had a different name for the mountain - Tar-Gan-Gil. It is not excluded that they conquered the summit first, long before the arrival of Europeans. Local people still consider this mountain sacred, it is necessary to go there only in order to honor spirits. But who will reckon with the opinion of the Aborigines, who make up only one and a half percent of the population of the Green Continent? Be that as it may, Tar-Gan-Gil is not listed on the maps. However, the name "Kosciusko" also did not stick. The fact is that in Polish the sound "w" is denoted by the diphthong "sz". So, when writing the name of the letter Z somewhere lost, and it turned out that the highest point of Australia is called Kosciusko. In English pronunciation, this name sounds like Koziosko (kɔziˌɔskoʊ).

A comfortable record

In the environment of climbers, the informal program "Conquest of the Seven Peaks" is practiced - that is, climbing all the highest peaks of all continents and continents. In comparison with Everest or Kilimanjaro, Kosciuszko with his 2228 meters looks like a dwarf. But still it is included in this program as the highest point of Australia and Oceania. This small peak is also extremely convenient for climbing. Conquer it can not only an inveterate climber, but even a person with disabilities, since the top is laid as a lift, and the highway. Nevertheless, many tourists are here all year round. In winter, snow lies here and the ski resort works. In summer, uncomplicated trekking attracts fans of mountain trekking, as the highest point of Australia is also the most beautiful mountain in the local Alps.

In the footsteps of Captain Grant's children

Mount Kosciuszko is located on the border of the states of New South Wales and Victoria. It is surrounded by a national nature park. Several routes are suggested for the ascent, they are all about one - low - level of complexity. But one of them is special. Connoisseurs of Jules Verne's creativity have the opportunity to walk to the top in the footsteps of the heroes of the book "Children of Captain Grant." The journey takes two whole days. Barbecue by the fire, spending the night in tents is only part of the romantic journey. Wombats and kangaroos, which are abundant on the banks of the Snowy River, will leave an indelible impression. On the way, thermal springs will have to be avoided, where the water has a temperature of + 27 ° C throughout the year. The most convenient time for climbing Kosciusko is from November to March, when the summer is in the southern hemisphere. But in winter, the highest point in Australia is not empty. On change to fans of tracking skiers come.

Lowest point in Australia

In contrast, interest for travelers and lovers of tourism on this amazing continent is Lake Eyre. It is in the desert of South Australia. Its depth varies depending on the season and the rainfall. But even in the driest time this lake keeps a little water in small puddles. Sometimes rains fill it up to the end (which is very rare). Then this pond becomes the largest lake on the continent. In addition, it is the lowest point in Australia, as it is at an altitude of 15 meters below sea level.