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Climb Ban Comes into Force at Australia's Famous Desert Rock

Phil Mercer

   SYDNEY - The world famous climb to the top of Uluru, the sacred red
   rock in central Australia, has permanently closed. Indigenous people
   have long asked tourists not to walk on the ancient sandstone monolith
   because of its spiritual significance. But the closure of the climb is
   not universally popular.

   Thousands of visitors have poured into the Uluru national park in
   recent weeks for the chance to reach the summit of the namesake
   monolith one last time.

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