1. Earthshots
  2. Wyperfeld National Park, Australia
  3. The "Little Desert"
Description

By the late 1800s, some Australians were trying to preserve natural lands, including the nationally symbolic “bush.” The Forest Act of 1907 established forest reserves, some on abandoned homesteads, including part of Wyperfeld in 1909. After the Second World War, the increasingly mobile and urban population desired more parks. In the 1960s, the government proposed a partial development of the “Little Desert” (visible south of the “Big Desert”); in the backlash of public outcry the plan was canceled, the Little Desert National Park was greatly expanded, and a national conservation agency was created.

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Location

Sept. 19, 1977, Landsat 2 (path/row 101/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Sept. 19, 1977, Landsat 2 (path/row 101/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Sept. 21, 1987, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Sept. 21, 1987, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Aug. 21, 1999, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Aug. 21, 1999, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Oct. 6, 2004, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Oct. 6, 2004, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Aug. 23, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Aug. 23, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Oct. 10, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Oct. 10, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Oct. 2, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Oct. 2, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Sept. 19, 1977, Landsat 2 (path/row 101/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia
Sept. 21, 1987, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia
Aug. 21, 1999, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia
Oct. 6, 2004, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia
Aug. 23, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia
Oct. 10, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia
Oct. 2, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 95/85) — Little Desert National Park, Australia

Wyperfeld National Park, Australia Additional Imagery & Stories

Fires in the Park
Fires in the Park

Southeast Australia has a history of severe fire problems, with some historic deadly fires such as the Ash Wednesday fire of 1983, and lesser fires al...

Plant and Wildlife
Plant and Wildlife

Wyperfeld National Park now covers 360,000 hectares, with its western half an official wilderness. The park is habitat for black-faced mallee kangaroo...