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The Secret Behind the Magnetic Termite Mounds in Australia

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The magnetic termite mounds in Australia attract visitors from all over the world. But what are these fascinating structures? And can they really be magnetic?

Landscape view of magnetic termite mounds in Australia in Litchfield Park Northern Territory
Australia’s magnetic termite mounds attract visitors from across the world…

Magnetic Termite Mounds in Australia

Let’s face it, the words magnetic termite mounds don’t sound all that appealing.

“Magnetic” speaks of mystery, magic and heart fluttering chemistry. “Termites,” meanwhile, tell tales of corrosion, erosion and an itchy sense of unease at the sound of scuttling in the night. And then there’s “mound,” which barely bothers to register as a word in its own right at all.

Magnetic termite mounds. This unlikely trio of words bounced around my head on the drive to Litchfield Park in Australia’s Northern Territory.

I didn’t feel terribly excited.

But there they were on every road sign: magnetic termite mounds, magnetic wormite clowns, magnetic marmite crowns…

You have to understand, I was jetlagged and tired. And I didn’t really know what they were.

What Are Magnetic Termite Mounds?

Structures built by small insects that rise up to two metres and beyond in Australia’s natural parks.

Australia - Northern Territory - Litchfield Park - Woman in front of magnetic termite mounds - Abigail King
Cheesy photo to show scale…

Driving To Litchfield Park to Find the Termite Mounds

The earth turned rust red while the sky scratched deep into the blue pools in my eyes. Grass scrubbed the land and burning dust scrubbed my lungs.

I walked from the car and followed the voices. Children, adults, bloggers, guides. All dwarf-like amid house-high cartoon like mounds.

Termite mounds.

Yes, termite mounds. Solid, towering termite mounds.

But they weren’t the ones I was after. For while they were indeed termite mounds, they were not magnetic.

Nor, it turns out disappointingly, are the ones that carry the name.

When I found them, these slender grey tombstones that rise from the earth, my buzzing mental chatter fell quiet.

Magnetic Termite Mound
Nature’s Stonehenge

Nature’s Stonehenge

One after the other, knife edge to knife edge, flat shadow to flat shadow, they stretched across the ground, a graveyard of military ghosts. No wonder those early explorers called them magnetic, a field of upright needles aligned along a meridian of the sun.

But, as it turns out, magnets and magnetism have nothing to do with it. This arrangement is nature’s answer to the problem of termite air conditioning. By aligning themselves with the journey of the sun, these termites ensure that the temperature stays even over the course of the ferociously hot day and subsequent cold night.

Captivating. Beautiful. Cool. Dry

The words wriggled and raced no more. Instead, they fell into formation and fell into sense.

Magnetic termite mounds. If you’ll forgive me, they are among nature’s greatest attractions.

Termite mound close-up
Termite mounds up close

How to See Magnetic Termite Mounds in Australia

Litchfield Park

Beautiful Litchfield National Park lives within a short drive from Darwin in the Norther Territory.

Kakadu National Park

The stunning Kakadu National Park is a little further from Darwin and really merits an overnight stay. Read about the other things to see and do in Kakadu National Park here.

More on Travel in Australia

8 thoughts on “The Secret Behind the Magnetic Termite Mounds in Australia”

  1. It looks amazing! I haven`t seen something like that in my life. One more task for my travel list – to see Magnetic Termite Mounds!

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