The story of this place
The Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park contains thousands of limestone pillars rising up to 3.5 metres from the yellow quartz sand. The pillars formed approximately 25,000–30,000 years ago from seashell fragments cemented by rainwater in dune limestone. Sunrise from the east silhouettes the pillars against a gradient sky, while low raking light emphasises texture and shadow between the formations. The desert is also one of Western Australia's premier astrophotography locations — the pillars create extraordinary foreground subjects beneath the Milky Way core during summer months (December–February). No artificial light pollution exists within the park boundaries. The Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre provides walking tracks through the formations.