Blue Mountains, Australia (Oct 2007)

Les Montagnes Bleues sont localisees a environ 100 kilometres a l ouest de Sydney. Ce n est pas comme le nom pourrait l indiquer  une chaine de montagnes mais une serie de monts entoures par des plateaux avec des gorges pouvant atteindre jusqu'a 760 metres de profondeur. Les Montagnes Bleues font parties du patrimoine mondial.

The Blue Mountains are found approximately 100 kilometres west of Sydney. The Blue Mountains are not as the name suggests a range of mountains but rather a series of cliffs surrounding a plateau with rugged eroded gorges of up to 760 metres depth. A large majority of the Blue Mountains is incorporated in the  World Heritage Site and its constituent seven national parks and a conservation reserve.

Le site le plus connu de ses montagnes est probablement le site des Trois Soeurs. Leurs noms sont Meehni (922 m), Wimlah (918 m), et Gunnedoo (906 m).

The most famoust site in the Blues Mountains is most certainly the Three Sisiters. Their names are Meehni (922 m), Wimlah (918 m), and Gunnedoo (906 m).

Elles sont situees pres de la ville de Katoomba qui surplombe a vallee de Jamison.

They are close to the town of Katoomba, towering above the Jamison Valley.

Le train pour descendre dans la vallee est la ligne la plus pentue du monde, et descent 415 metres a une inclinaison a 52 degres a travers les monts. Je l ai pris et j ai eu une peur terrible due a mon vertige!

The Katoomba Scenic Railway, the steepest railway in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records, and originally part of the Katoomba mining tramways constructed between 1878 and 1900. The cable railway line descends 415 metres through sandstone cliffs, via a rock tunnel with a maximum gradient of 52 degrees. I board the train despite my fear of heights and it was horrible

La vegetation la plus frequente sotn les forets d eucalyptus. Les gorges sont souvent qualifiees de forets humide a climat tempere. Il y a aussi beaucoup de lianes.

The predominant natural vegetation of the higher ridges is eucalypt forest. Heath-like vegetation is present on plateau edges above cliffs. The sheltered gorges often have a temperate rainforest. There are also many hanging swamps with button grass reeds and thick, deep black soil. Wollemia nobilis, the "Wollemi pine", a relic of earlier vegetation of Gondwana

et d autres phtos de la vallee / and some other pictures taken inside the valley

Scenic World propose aussi le Scenic Skywalk Cable car, qui faitl l aller et retour entre deux cote de la vallee a 1003m et offre une vue imprenable sur Katoomba chutes, et le Rocher Orphelin. En 2004, la voiture a ete remplace par une voiture toute en glace qui est transparent durant le trajet. Non je ne suis pas monte dedans et ai attendu Julien a un edroit sur!

Scenic World also offers the Scenic Skyway cable car, which travels over an arm of the Jamison Valley and offers views of Katoomba Falls and Orphan Rock. In 2004 the original Skyway car was replaced by a new car with a liquid crystal panel floor, which abruptly becomes transparent while the car travels. No I didn't take the ride and have been waiting Julien in a safely!

Enfin je vous laisse regarder les photos qui n ont pas besoin de commentaires

Now I let you watch the following pictures, no need of any comments