Magnetic termite mound
One last post about Litchfield National Park and this is to show you the amazing magnetic termite mounds. These are nature’s answer to surviving in this very hot tropical climate. Every termite mound in this area is built facing magnetic north and long and thin along the north/south axis. This is to minimise the exposure to the sun.
How amazing, they must have a built-in compass. Click on the link above for more photos and information.
Same magnetic termite mound
Magnetic termite mounds
When seen on mass the first thing that springs to mind is “they look like a graveyard”… The mounds in the park had a board walk past them and were fenced off, you could not get up close and personal. The ones I photographed with Jack alongside where on the dirt road before we entered the National Park area so we were pleased we had stopped for the photo-op when it presented itself.
Well that is our Top End odyssey. The temperatures are into the top 30’s and the build up is starting, it will soon be the wet, humid, cyclone season so time for us to head out. It has been a very interesting stay up here…
gypsy life 
Those are impressive!
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My only experiences with termites have been here in the States, and they were teeny-tiny compared to the varieties you’ve seen. Had no idea of their ecological importance. Thank you for including!
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I had no idea about the importance of termite mounds. Thank you for sharing this.
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I was amazed at how many different types of termites there are
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These are wonderful! I saw some when we drove from Cairns to Cooktown but didn’t take pictures – thank you for posting these it brings back beautiful memories 🙂
If you’re going anywhere near Cooktown on your travels, Black Mountain is a must (if you haven’t seen it already) because it’s probably one of the most haunting and amazing places I’ve ever seen in my ‘up north’ travels!
http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/black-mountain/index.html
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Last winter we went to Cairns and then Cooktown and we stopped to look at the Black Mountains, yes I agree a very haunting place. You may like to look at the post I did back then.
https://pommepal.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/black-mountains-national-park
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I initially looked back through your posts to see if you had written something about it and couldn’t see it. Thank you for posting the link for me 😀
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That’s amazing! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for the visit and comment
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I didn’t know there was such a thing as magnetic termite mounts. Thanks for introducing this. These are amazing and huge
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I was amazed to find so many different types of termite mounds as we travelled around
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