Torrential rain turns Australia's desert heart into a series of waterfalls
Located in the desert centre of Australia, Uluru is known for its size and striking red colour as well as its sacred significance for Anangu, its traditional Aboriginal Australian owners, but rarely for rain.
Taller than the Eiffel Tower, its banks became temporary waterfalls at Christmas after downpours swept the area. The Bureau of Meteorology called the conditions a one-in-fifty-year event.
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was closed to visitors Monday local time due to "an extreme weather event," according to Parks Australia. It reopened Tuesday.
It wasn't all good news for the region, with the rains causing flash flooding and property damage around the town of Kintore, ABC reported.
Still, a few lucky visitors who were onsite for the unusual rain were able to capture the incredible sight of water cascading down the sides and domes of Uluru and nearby Kata Tjuta.
And, lucky for us, they shared them on social media. Consider this some travel inspiration (and, hopefully, a good omen) for 2017.
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Ariel Bogle was an associate editor with Mashable in Australia covering technology. Previously, Ariel was associate editor at Future Tense in Washington DC, an editorial initiative between Slate and New America.
