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Top 10 Outstanding Facts about the Blue Mountains

Echo Point, the Blue Mountains by Maksym Kozlenko from

Australia’s New South Wales is home to the Blue Mountains, a high area and mountain range. The region shares a boundary with the metropolitan area of Sydney, with its foothills beginning around 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of the state capital’s centre, not far from Penrith, in the Greater Sydney region.

The Blue Mountains are simply a small portion of a vast mountainous region connected to the Great Dividing Range, hence the public’s perception of their size varies. According to its 1970 definition, the Blue Mountains region is bordered to the east by the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers, to the west and south by the Coxs River and Lake Burragorang, and to the north by the Wolgan and Colo rivers. Geographically speaking, it is located in the heart of the Sydney Basin.

Below are ten outstanding facts about the Blue Mountains.

1. Blue  mountains was not its original name

Blue mountains by NipGhost03 from

Following the arrival of European settlers in the Sydney region, Arthur Phillip named the region the Carmarthen and Lansdowne Hills in 1788. The Lansdowne Hills were in the region’s south while the Carmarthen Hills were in the north. However, the name Blue Mountains, which refers to the range’s blue tint when seen from a distance, was favoured.

The tinge is thought to be created by a phenomenon called Mie scattering, which happens when incoming light with shorter wavelengths is preferentially dispersed by particles in the atmosphere, giving distant objects like mountains and clouds a blue-greyish hue.

2. Aboriginals live there

Australia Aboriginal Culture by Steve Evans from

The Gundungurra people, who are currently represented by the Gundungurra Tribal Council Aboriginal Corporation with headquarters in Katoomba, and the Darug people, who are currently represented by the Darug Tribal Aboriginal Corporation, had been living in the Blue Mountains for several millennia when European explorers arrived in Australia.

According to the Gundungurra creation myth of the Blue Mountains, the epic conflict between the half-fish, half-reptile Dreamtime monsters Mirigan and Garangatch resulted in the creation of the Jamison Valley.

3. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site

Facts about Blue Mountains by Dietmar Rabich from

The Greater Blue Mountains Area, the fourth area in New South Wales to be included, was unanimously added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Areas on November 29, 2000. The area includes the Blue Mountains, Kanangra-Boyd, Wollemi, Gardens of Stone, Yengo, Nattai, and Thirlmere Lakes National Parks, as well as the Jenolan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve, which together cover around 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 sq mi).

4. It has over 400 different types of animals

Long-nosed Potoroo by Thechaosapex from

There are more than 400 different species of animals living in the Greater Blue Mountains area. Rare animal species including the long-nosed potoroo, koala, yellow-bellied glider, and spotted-tailed quoll are among them. Additionally, there are a few uncommon reptiles, such as the Blue Mountain water skink. Dingos, the main predators in the area and hunters of grey kangaroos, are also present.

5. The Blue Mountains are a popular destination for outdoor activities

Mount Victoria Park by Mount Victoria Park from

Rock climbers, mountain bikers, hikers, canyoners, and other adventure sports enthusiasts all enjoy visiting the Blue Mountains. The majority of the guiding businesses and equipment shops for these sports are in Katoomba.

The Centennial Glen cliffs at Blackheath, Mount Victoria, Mount Piddington, and Mount Boyce are all well-liked climbing locations. Currently, climbing is prohibited on The Three Sisters.

The several fire routes, such as Narrow Neck, Anderson’s Fire Trail, and others, that branch off from the main spine of the Great Western Highway are the primary locations for mountain riding.

Although there are several designated walking routes that are not on fire roads, many of the fire trails are also popular with day hikers. In the Blue Mountains, canyoning is a well-liked activity.

6. The Blue Mountains draws a lot of celebrities

Norman Lindsay by Australian News and Information Bureau from

An abundance of creative types visits the Blue Mountains, including musicians, writers, and artists. The Varuna Writers Center is located there, and famed authors Henry Lawson and Norman Lindsay call it home. Compared to the NSW state average of 4.7 percent and the national average of 3.5 percent, 7.6 percent of the Blue Mountains’ total resident population works in the creative industries.

The Blue Mountains’ third-largest source of revenue comes from the creative industries ($152 million), and the region’s creative output is estimated to be worth $592 million. In 2015, the Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise

8. The residents have fought against big food chains

Fast food franchises like McDonald’s and KFC have been successfully held off from the Blue Mountains by the locals and council of Katoomba, the principal tourist destination. The only fast food restaurant in Katoomba as of 2016 is Subway.

9. Ghosts and strange sightings

Spirit portal by Twinsday from

A number of weird tales and enigmatic traditions have historically been associated with the Blue Mountains, including reports of sightings of a black panther in the Lithgow region, UFOs, ghosts, and bipedal creatures some have dubbed yowies. Even its own ghost tours and mystery excursions are available in the Blue Mountains.

10. Home to endangered species

Koala climbing tree by Diliff from

10% of NSW’s threatened plant and animal species can be found in the Blue Mountains, highlighting the region’s significance in maintaining variety. City Council of the Blue Mountains. The brush-tailed wallaby, copper butterfly, tiger quoll, long-nosed potoroo, Blue Mountains water skink, koala, gigantic dragonfly, and magenta lily pilly are just a few of the local endangered species.

The Blue Mountains are home to 344 plant and animal species that are protected by the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act of 1995. The conservation efforts being made in the Blue Mountains are very significant because Australia is a global leader in the extinction of species. (The Blue Mountains Conservation Society)

If you’re in Sydney and don’t have a car, you can take the train to the Blue Mountains. Every hour, the Blue Mountains Line departs from Central Station and travels the 2 hours to Katoomba.

When you arrive in Katoomba, you can buy an All-Day Pass for the Trolley Car, allowing you to board and exit at any time at any of the 29 stops.