Volcanic Remnants

Just half an hour out of Melbourne, the valley of the Organ Pipes National Park reveals the volcanic remnants of the western planes of Victoria.  In a few minutes you are walking along a peaceful creek carved in a basalt landscape.

A tree without leaves, the Allocasuarina survives on the dry hills down the hill track and a tall Callitris pine shows the regeneration of this once denuded valley western planes grasses once grew all over this part of Victoria
take the time to work out how this "Rosette" rock formed from the molten lava Giant's stepping stones, this type of patterned formation is seen all around the world in early summer, this creek still holds enough water for the Azolla mats and the reedy plants
cooling speeds explain these patterned columns of volcanic rock beyond the park, the denuded landscape of the western planes. The cool valley shuts out the noise of speeding traffic at the start of summer the small green berries of the Solanum aviculare "Kangaroo Apple" soon turn red

These digital pictures were taken in December 1999.