Friday 8 January 2010

SkyWatch Friday; Where sky and desert meet;


The Breakaways;

The Breakaways is located on the Aboriginal Antakirinja Land which is located in far North of South Australia, 25 Kilometres North-North-West of the Opal Mining Township of Coober Pedy.

Aboriginal people have lived in this area for thousands of years and the Breakaway's area has been held as a very important place for Aboriginal people. Before the white settlement the name of the area was "Umoona" which is named after the Umoona tree meaning long life which is found at the Breakaway's and the Umoona Community in Coober Pedy.
After white man inhabited this area in search of opal Aboriginal people named this area Kupaku Piti meaning "white man's hole". Kupaku is a Muntunjarra word for White man and Piti is an Antakirinja word for hole. These are two traditional groups who own this area, the first group being Antakirinja and the other being Muntunjarra.
Aboriginal culture does not allow the full story of the Breakaways to be told as it is a teaching place for all young Wati's(Men).


Click here to see the sky;

Thank you to the SkyWatch team.

15 comments:

Dirkjogt said...

Great picture and a lovely blue sky.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Such a contrast to the area I live so arid but a lovely earthy clour to the sky.

TonyC said...

Great shot Titania. The painted desert is one of my favourite spots in SA. thanks for triggering a great memory!

Max-e said...

What a big country with big skies. Interesting post Titania.

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Hi Titania! Interesting story and a great shot! Thank you!

eden said...

What a beautiful place with a beautiful sky.Thanks for sharing the information..

Have a great weekend

Unknown said...

That is so stunningly beautiful. Lonely, exotic, and so very far from my snow-laden landscape.

Janie said...

What a lovely stark land - reminds me of parts of southern Utah. Your sky is big and beautiful.

Inday said...

Not only the picture is great I also read with much interest of its cultural history.

Sorry to have lost you for a while and what a way to learn more about Australian culture.

I would very much love to live an "Umoona" Ozzie life. Wink!

Happy New Year Ma'am Titania! All the best for this decade.

Here is mine.

Stephanie said...

I hope the aboriginal people found a better place... lots of water and greens :-D

Good picture!

sweetbay said...

The desert there is painted with such beautiful bold colors. Very interesting post too.

Maia T said...

Beautiful place and an amazing photo Titania.

diane b said...

Terrific contrast in colours. Doesn't the sky seem big out there?Interesting facts too, thanks.

MedaM said...

It looks like there is no end to this beautiful red land which is kissed by lovely blue sky at the horizon. Wonderful photo!

Sue Catmint said...

Hi Titania, great photo, and I am so pleased you include info about Aboriginal history and culture. Thank you for your warm comments in my blog. I wish you and your family a happy, healthy garden-year. Cheers, catmint