17 Facts About Mount Kosciuszko, Australia

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The highest mountain in Australia continent, Mount Kosciuszko, standing tall at 2,228 meters, is a treasure trove of rare plant species and flowers!

At a height of 2,228 meters i.e. 7310 feet, the Mount Kosciuszko's co-ordinates are 36° 27' S latitude and 148° 16' E longitude.

The mountain has a rocky terrain and covered with dense forests.

Part of the Kosciuszko National Park, there are rare species of alpine plants, endemic flowers and animals found on the mountain, due to which it was made a part of the World Biosphere Reserve in 1997.

The Kosciuszko National Park is home to 49 percent of the total bird species found in New South Wales.

Easiest to climb, the mountain is the lowest of the Seven Summit, with the main trail being a 5.5 km-long easy hike.

One can cycle or take the Thredbo route on foot (6.5 kms) to reach the Rawson pass where they need to leave their bicycles and continue the rest of the summit on foot!

Chairlift facility is available on the Thredbo route to make life easier for hikers.

Located in the Snowy Mountains of the Australian Alps, Kosciuszko is known to be the snowiest and coldest part of Australia that is covered with snow from June to October.

The melting snow from the other mountains close to the Mt Kosciuszko such as Mount Townsend, North Ramshead, Carruthers, and Twynam that are about 7,000 ft high is fed to the rivers and reservoirs as a part of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme.

A high point of the Great Dividing Range, there are glacier-like features such as cirques and moraines that were developed about 20,000 years ago!

The Polish explorer, Count Paul Strzelecki, first discovered the mountain in 1840.

Nicknamed as 'Kossy', the mountain is named in the honor of Polish hero General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who played an important role in Polish independence wars!

There are a few different names associated with the mountain - Tar-gan-gil, Tackingal, Jar-gan-gil, Jagungal - all of which mean 'the Table Top Mountain'.

Originally another mountain was named Mt Kosciuszko and the current one was named Mt Townsend! However, after due measurements, it was found that the Mt Townsend was taller than the other summit. To make sure, Mt Kosciuszko remained the tallest mountain, the names were switched in 1910!

The highest public toilet in Australia was built in 2007 at Rawson pass, at an altitude of 2,100 meters!

The spelling of the mountain was changed from Kosciusko to Kosciuszko by the NSW Government in 1997!

Within a radius of 10 kms of the mountain region (Mt Pygmy Possum), one can find little furballs, rodents in abundance!