Mount Buffalo
Mount Buffalo is moderately tall mountain plateau in the Mount Buffalo National Park in Victoria, Australia that is located approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) northeast of Melbourne in the Australian Alps.
| Mount Buffalo | |
|---|---|
 Mount Buffalo plateau as seen from below The Horn. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,723 m (5,653 ft) |
| Coordinates | 36°44′18″S 146°46′30″E |
| Geography | |
| Parent range | Great Dividing Range |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Unknown |
| Easiest route | Road access up Mount Buffalo Road. |
The summit on the plateau, known as The Horn, has an elevation of 1,723 metres (5,653 ft) AHD.
Mount Buffalo is managed by Parks Victoria.[1]
History
Before European settlement, Mount Buffalo was visited by the Mitambuta and Taungurong people who visited to feast on Bogong moths (Agrotis infusa). Hamilton Hume and William Hovell were the first Europeans to visit the area and they named the mountain during their 1824 expedition, noting the mountain's resemblance to a giant, sleeping buffalo.[2]
In 1836, the explorer and Surveyor General of New South Wales, Thomas Mitchell visited the area and named the mountain Mount Aberdeen, unaware it had already been named Mount Buffalo.[2]
Recreation
There are extensive walking tracks across the Plateau that is studded with large granite tors. The Mount Buffalo Gorge has sheer granite cliffs that provide good views down to the Ovens Valley. The cliffs are popular for rock climbing. There is a launch ramp for hang gliders at the cliffs.
There are waterfalls on the edge of escarpment.
The Mount Buffalo Chalet provided accommodation on the mountain but is not currently operating.
During winter Mount Buffalo offers snow play and cross-country skiing.
Lake Catani on the plateau is used for canoeing, fishing and swimming.[3]
Climate
Climate data are sourced from Mount Buffalo Chalet, situated at an altitude of 1,350 metres (4,430 ft) AMSL. An extreme winter precipitation peak is noted, with a large quantity falling as heavy snow.
| Climate data for Mount Buffalo Chalet (1910–1980); 1,350 m AMSL; 36° 43′ 19.02″ S | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 31.7 (89.1) |
31.9 (89.4) |
28.3 (82.9) |
24.4 (75.9) |
18.9 (66.0) |
15.0 (59.0) |
14.0 (57.2) |
16.0 (60.8) |
19.6 (67.3) |
21.5 (70.7) |
26.1 (79.0) |
29.5 (85.1) |
31.9 (89.4) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 19.7 (67.5) |
19.5 (67.1) |
16.7 (62.1) |
11.8 (53.2) |
8.0 (46.4) |
5.2 (41.4) |
3.9 (39.0) |
4.8 (40.6) |
7.9 (46.2) |
11.1 (52.0) |
14.3 (57.7) |
17.5 (63.5) |
11.7 (53.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 10.9 (51.6) |
11.3 (52.3) |
9.1 (48.4) |
5.5 (41.9) |
2.7 (36.9) |
0.4 (32.7) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
1.7 (35.1) |
3.8 (38.8) |
6.3 (43.3) |
9.1 (48.4) |
5.0 (41.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 0.8 (33.4) |
1.5 (34.7) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−6.6 (20.1) |
−8.1 (17.4) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−8.1 (17.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 89.3 (3.52) |
87.0 (3.43) |
99.5 (3.92) |
126.3 (4.97) |
186.9 (7.36) |
207.5 (8.17) |
225.1 (8.86) |
217.7 (8.57) |
192.1 (7.56) |
183.5 (7.22) |
129.7 (5.11) |
111.7 (4.40) |
1,856.3 (73.09) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 6.6 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 9.0 | 12.2 | 13.5 | 14.5 | 15.0 | 13.6 | 12.5 | 10.2 | 8.9 | 130.1 |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Mount Buffalo Chalet | |||||||||||||
References
- Mount Buffalo National Park, Parks Victoria
- "The Garden of the Gods - A brief history of Mount Buffalo National Park". Visit Mount Buffalo. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- Mount Buffalo National Park Archived 16 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Great Alpine Valleys