Greater Blue Mountains Area

　　The Greater Blue Mountains Area covers 1.03 million hectares and features sandstone plateaus, cliffs, and canyons, most of which are covered by temperate eucalyptus forests. The nature reserve consists of eight key protected areas, each showcasing the evolutionary adaptability and diversity of eucalyptus populations following the separation of the Australian continent from Gondwana.

　　There are 91 species of eucalyptus in the Greater Blue Mountains Area. Globally, such a complex structure and ecological diversity within a single region is extremely rare for eucalyptus. The area contains 10% of the world’s vascular plant species and many rare and endangered species, making it yet another outstanding representation of Australia’s biodiversity.

　　The rare and endangered species in this reserve include many locally unique, so-called “living fossil” evolutionary remnants, such as the Wollemi Pine, which can only survive in very small, specific areas. Several ancient evolutionary relic species have also been discovered in the reserve—species that are now very scarce and found only in limited regions.

　　The Greater Blue Mountains Area Why you must go: Largest eucalyptus reserve Continent where the attraction is located: Oceania Country/Region where the attraction is located: Australia Province/State where the attraction is located: New South Wales