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Ban - Climbing Australia's most famous monolith is now illegal.

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Sacred site - The site is sacred to the local people, who have pushed for the ban for a long time.

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Indigenous win -

The decision to ban tourists from climbing Uluru was eventually announced in 2017.

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Politics - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was heavily criticized by Indigenous people for not being present at Uluru's closure celebrations.

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Climb - Despite only 16% of visitors climbing it in 2017, in the last few weeks tourists have flocked to the area to climb the iconic rock.

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Dangerous - The steep climb is dangerous and has killed a number of people throughout the years.

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Dangerous - High temperatures in the summer, that can reach up to 47°C (116°F), make the trek even more dangerous for tourists.

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Ecological footprint - But the impact of tourism goes further than disrespecting the local people's beliefs.

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Ecological footprint - Not only do they climb Uluru, but some tourists urinate or defecate on top of this natural wonder. This has lead to the extinction of a rare shrimp species.

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Uluru - But what exactly is Uluru and why is it so special?

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Location - Uluru is located southwest of Alice Springs, in Australia’s Northern Territory. It's right in the heart of the country.

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Name - Uluru is also known as Ayers Rock.

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Size - Uluru is one of the world's largest monoliths, standing at 348 m high (1,142 ft) and measuring 9.4 km (5.8 mi) around.

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That is one big stone! - Explorer Ernest Giles described Uluru as "the remarkable pebble" in 1872.

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Color - Uluru is noted for its stunning color, which varies depending on the time of day and year. The sunset and sunrise here are breathtaking!

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Formation - Uluru is made up of sandstone and minerals like feldspar, which give off a reddish glow during sunrise and sunset.

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Sacred - Uluru is a sacred site to the Aṉangu, the local Indigenous people.

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Local people - The Anangu are one of the oldest societies in the world. It's estimated that they may have been in the area for over 10,000 years.

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Creation of the world - According to local legend, Uluru is linked to the creation of the world.

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Pilgrimage - Uluru has become a place of pilgrimage for people in search of mystical experiences.

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Lying in wait - In the morning, this rock formation looks like an animal lying in wait, and when the sun sets, it shines like a ruby.

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Caves - Uluru has an abundance of rock caves where impressive cave paintings can be found.

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Caves - It's uncertain how old all the paintings are, but it's estimated that people have lived in the region for at least 30,000 years.

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UNESCO World Heritage site - Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, where Uluru is located, is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Flora and fauna - The park is home to 46 species of mammals, as well as unique flowers, shrubs, and trees.

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Kata Tjuta - On the horizon you can see the imposing outline of the rock formations called Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas.

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Exploring Uluru - There are designated trails around Uluru for people who want to explore.

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A special place - While you won't be able to climb it anymore, a trip to this mystical place should definitely be on your bucket list.

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Uluru is not the only place that has suffered from tourism - Get to know other natural wonders ruined by tourists.

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