Undara Lava Tubes

Glass House Mountains

2008-05-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

The Glass House Mountains are found in the hinterland of Queensland's Sunshine Coast. They are actually the cores of 20 million year old volcanoes, so that the sides of the volcanoes have eroded away leaving only hardened plugs or rock spires.

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Ubinas, Peru - Current Activity

2008-05-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

Based on SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information) reports, the Buenos Aires VAAC reported that ash plumes from Ubinas rose to an altitude of 5.5 and 8.5 km (18,000 and 28,000 ft) a.s.l. on 15 and 19 May, respectively. The plumes drifted E and SW.

Source: Buenos Aires Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) - “Reports provided courtesy of the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program and the US Geological Survey’s Volcano Hazards Program.”

Undara Experience

2008-04-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

It all takes place in the famous Undara Lava Tubes in north Queensland from December to March each year. Taking visitors through, Undara Experience tour guide Marcus regularly gets to witness and share with others “a wild animal hunting for it’s prey, totally oblivious to you.”

The wild animal he’s talking about is the brown tree snake, known locally as the “night tiger”, which hangs from the roof of Barkers Cave. Their prey are micro bats, thousands of them coming out at dusk in search of food. The bats hunt for insects. The snakes hunt for bats. You get the picture.

So you’re asking yourself, “Why would I want to go anywhere near this?” To hear Marcus tell it, it’s a case of why wouldn’t you? In his words, you’ll see a “spaghetti necktie of snakes” and “feel the breeze from the movement of thousands of bats.” It’s a truly unique experience, and for that reason alone it’s worth setting your fears aside. “You can get right to the entrance of the cave,” adds Marcus. “Right amongst the movement of the bats.” But just in case you can’t go through with it, there is another option: “Those that are nervous have the opportunity to stay away from the main action.” And if you’re still worried, Marcus says bats have the ability to change direction within a body length. “So it’s very rare that anybody will actually be hit by one.”

The snakes will leave you alone as well. They only have eyes for the bats, and there are plenty of them to go around. Re-coiling after their feed, the night tigers lie in wait until the next evening’s batty banquet. That’s the beauty of the whole thing; you’ll witness an unadulterated natural experience, close up. So . . . snakes, bats and a dark cave? No worries.

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Undara History

2007-08-11T03:48:00.000-07:00

The Undara Lava Tubes were formed some 190,000 years ago when a major volcano in the McBride volcanic province erupted, its molten lava flowing down a dry river bed. As the top layer quickly cooled and crusted, the fiery magma below continued to flow through the tubes taking it further and further from the volcano.

As the eruption slowed and then stopped, the lava drained out of the tubes leaving a series of long, hollow tunnels. Ancient roof collapses created deep, dark and moist depressions where fertile pockets of rainforest can now be seen. Rainforest plants and animals thrive in this environment; each tube offers a rare insight into this unusual geological wonder.

The word Undara means 'a long way' in the Aboriginal language, and one of the lava flows from Undara extends 160 kilometres (or 100 miles) making it the longest lava flow from a single volcano on our planet. The original tube formed by the flow extended for approximately 100 kilometres, and several sections are accessible.

During the eruption cycle, the Undara volcano spewed forth 23 cubic kilometres of lava covering 1550 square kilometres. So far, 68 separate sections of cave have been identified from over 300 lava tube roof collapses.

Trips to Undara Lava Tubes can be booked through the Mission Beach Information Station.