Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains is one of the major destinations and a must see icon for tourists visiting Sydney. I have been here when i visited Sydney the first time. No matter how often you go there, there will always be something to see, do, experience and explore in that vast area. The first feeling is awe, grand, spectacular, then trying to sample the smaller details eventually will make the visitors feel more awe, more grand, more spectacular. I think the feeling gets bigger as you try and explore the smaller details. Here those smaller details are endless.

Blue mountains gets its name from the blue haze as you look further to the horizon. That blue color has a very scientific explanation because the eucalyptus trees fully vegetating the area produced oils that react to the sun's light producing the much obvious blue color. But of course, there is still the explanation from the color spectrum where other colors are absorbed, while blue is reflected.

It is only about 2 hours by bus, train or private cars from Sydney. The roads are beautiful and safe, with the route views also worth seeing. The circuitous roads to the top makes a lovely ride. Most of those vegetation are Eucalyptus trees, with all its plenty of species within that genus. Of course there are smaller trees, shrubs, wild flowers, or grasses not visible at the grand scale.

Geologic and historical data record millions of years ago pointing even beyond the dinosaur era. And they further report that a few volcanoes are responsible for some of these geologic and vegetation characteristics.

Those layers of rock formation mean a lot, but for us tourists they just mean awesome and spectacular. No matter how long you stare at those vast forests of eucalyptus trees, the awe will not fade, it will even heighten more enthusiasm to explore and look for details.

The rock formation above was labeled Three Sisters, it is a bit funny maybe, or it could have started as a joke and it stuck. I wonder why they didn't call it Three Brothers or Three Musketeers, or even Three Spikes! By the way, there is bridge at the side of the 1st sister to the left, it is visible from the major lookout. There is a good trail going there, unfortunately it was closed when we reached halfway. We just returned and took  photos of wildflowers on the way back. That can be a subject of another post next time.

Our World Tuesday

Outdoor Wednesday

Nature Notes