People are now banned climbing one of the most sacred sites indigenous Australian culture. The world's largest monolith, the giant Uluru the desert of Australia's Northern Territory, is now officially -limits to tourists and climbers. It will be closed October 25 recognition the site's cultural significance to the local Anangu traditional owners. The giant site was once known as Ayers Rock, before it reverted to its historic name Uluru. It has been a major attraction for decades. Tourists from the world have flocked there in droves to climb the rock. However, it is a sacred site in Anangu culture. The Anangu custodians the rock have long campaigned for the ban.
The ban was initially announced in 2017 and most visitors complied it. Australia's tourist association said that only 16 per cent of visitors have actually climbed the rock 2017. Local Anangu man Rameth Thomas, who grew in a tiny community near Uluru, explained to the BBC how important the rock is to his people. He said: "That place is a very sacred place. That's our church. I've been telling them I was a little boy: 'We don't want you to climb the rock.'" He added: "All our stories are the rock. People right the world come just to climb it. They've got no respect." Another resident said: "If I tried to climb top of that parliament house at Canberra, they wouldn't let me .