Uluru  (Ayers Rock) is near the the border of the Northern Territory in the Uluru/Kata Tjuta National Park. It is about 75 kilometres from the South Australia border. Its nearest town is about 470 kilometres northeast, known as Alice Springs.  40 kilometres to the west of Uluru is Kata Tjuta, also known as The Olgas. This massive pile of rock domes dates back 500 million years.
 
Rising from the broad desert plain in the deep centre of Australia, Uluru is the world's largest single round shaped sandstone rock. It is 348 metres high and 9 kilometres around, and like an iceberg, has most of its bulk below the surface.

There is some scientific disagreement about the origins of Uluru. The most widely held theory is that both Uluru and Kata Tjuta are remnants of a vast sedimentary bed which was laid down some 600 million years ago. The bed was spectacularly tilted so that Uluru now protrudes at an angle of up to 85°. The rock is actually grey but is covered with a distinctive reddish colour due to rusting in the rock ( iron oxide ).

The surface of Uluru is covered with flaky thin sheets of rock curled up around the surface. Some people think the thin layer of Uluru is like giant corn flakes. At the top of Uluru there are small and large rock pools. There are some high caves near the north Eastern and western faces of Uluru and some more caves which are near the base of Uluru.  During the day Uluru changes colour.   

Both Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) have great cultural significance for the Anangu traditional landowners, who lead walking tours that inform about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal Dreamtime stories of the area. Watarrka National Park, encompassing Kings Canyon, lies 300 kilometres to the north-east of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and 310 kilometres west of Alice Springs. Kings Canyon has 300-metre-high sandstone walls, walking trails, palm-filled crevices and views across the desert.
 
History

According to today's estimates we believe that the first Aborigines moved into the area at least 22 000 years ago. The aboriginal people of this area call themselves Anangu ('we people'). The Anangu are made up of 3 main groups: the Yankunytjatjara, the Pitjantjatjara, and the Ngaanyatjara. The network of language, kin and religious inter-relationships which unite Anangu extends over the large territory and ties them with places as far as Kings Canyon, Papunya, Port Hedland, Kargoorlie, Ceduna, Yalata, Maralinga and Alice Springs.

The notes on the history of Uluru National Park explain the Aboriginal understanding of Uluru in the following terms: "In the beginning the world was unformed and featureless. Ancestral beings emerged from this void and journeyed widely, creating all the living species and the characteristic features of the desert landscape you see today. Uluru and Kata Tjuta provide physical evidence of feats performed during the creation period. Anangu are the direct descendants of these beings and are responsible for the protection and appropriate management of these ancestral lands. The knowledge necessary to fulfill these responsibilities has been passed down from generation to generation from the Tjukurpa."

Uluru was named Ayers Rock after the Premier of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. In 1950 the area was declared as the Ayers Rock National Park. On October the 26 1985 the Anangu people were given back their land, who gave it the aboriginal name of Uluru.

Things to see

One of the most interesting 'traditional' activities in the area is the Maruku Arts and Crafts Complex behind the ranger's station near the base of Uluru. Here there is a fine exhibition of Western Desert artifacts as well as a good range of local art works for sale.

The caves around the base of the rock abound with hundreds of paintings which depict Aboriginal life. These paintings were still being done as recently as the 1930s. The technique was to make a brush from the chewed end of a piece of bark and to paint the predominantly abstract designs with a combination of red and yellow ochre, charcoal and white pipe clay. The caves to the left of the car park have quite a lot of interesting paintings and can be reached by an easy ten minute walk around the base of the rock.

Please Don't Climb Uluru

Only 10% of all tourists actually climb the rock. Climbing Uluru is very much discouraged, but it is not banned yet. The Anagu people are deeply offended by people climbing Uluru.There are metal chains to help people climb it, because it is very steep and number of people have died from heart attacks as a result of climbing.   

"The Uluru climb is the traditional route taken by ancestral Mala men upon their arrival to Uluru. Anangu do not climb Uluru because of its great spiritual significance.
UluruAnangu have not closed the climb. They prefer that you - out of education and understanding - choose to respect their law and culture by not climbing. Remember that you are a guest on Anangu land.
Also, Anangu traditionally have a duty to safeguard visitors to their land. They feel great sadness when a person dies or is hurt." http://www.deh.gov.au/parks/uluru/