Standley Chasm (Angkerle)

Located 50km by sealed road from Alice Springs, Standley Chasm (Angkerle) has been gouged into tough sandstone by the floods that, over untold millions of years, have surged down a narrow tributary of the Finke River system. The result is a deep red cleft crowded on either side by craggy slopes that rise 80 metres above the floor. An inspiration regardless of either the weather or the time of day, the Chasm is at its most dramatic an hour either side of noon on a sunny day. Then the sheer walls glow from reflected sunlight to create a breathtaking display of stark form and rich colour. An entirely different experience is provided along the walking track that links the carpark to the Chasm. This follows a creek where spring-fed pools attract a great variety of wildlife particularly birds. Thanks to water, the gully floor is lush with plants that range from delicate ferns to tall gums; many species such as the cycad palm, have survived here in the shadow of the arid hills from a long-gone wetter age. Although the track is rough in parts, most active visitors will find the 20 minute one-way walk to be quite easy. However, the conditions require that sensible shoes be worn. Standley Chasm is located in a private flora and fauna reserve owned by the Iwupataka Land Trust and is operated by Aborigiinal family members that are direct decendants from Aboriginal people that have lived in this area for thousands of years. They operate the cafe as a profitable concern with no fundiing and as a training facility for their children. An array of wildflowers flourish in the harsh regions surrounding Standley Chasm. Called Angkerle by the Aborigines, the Chasm’s European name honours Mrs Ida Standley who, in 1914, became the first school teacher in Alice Springs. In 1925, the school for children of Aboriginal descent was moved from Alice Springs to Jay Creek (Iwupataka) with Mrs Standley as matron. It was during her time at Jay Creek that she became the first non-Aboriginal woman to visit the feature that now bears her name.