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Alice Springs is the second largest city in the
Northern Territory of Australia. Popularly known as
"the Alice" or simply "Alice", Alice Springs is
situated in the geographic centre of Australia near
the southern border of the Northern Territory. The
site is known as Mparntwe to its traditional
inhabitants, the Arrernte, who have lived in the
Central Australian desert in and around what is now
Alice Springs for more than 50,000 years. Alice
Springs has a population of 27,481 people which
makes up 12 per cent of the territory's population.
Averaging 576 metres (1,890 ft) above sea level, the
town is nearly equidistant from Adelaide and Darwin.
There are six suburbs altogether in Alice Springs
which are close to the Alice Springs town centre.
Alice Springs is mostly residential.
The town of Alice Springs straddles the usually dry
Todd River on the northern side of the MacDonnell
Ranges. The region where Alice Springs is located is
known as Central Australia, or the Red Centre, and
is an arid environment consisting of several
different deserts. In Alice Springs, temperatures
can vary by up to 28 °C (82 °F) and rainfall can
vary quite dramatically from year to year. In
summer, the average maximum temperature is 36.6 °C
(97.9 °F), whereas in winter the average minimum
temperature can be 7.5 °C (45.5 °F).
The modern town of Alice Springs has both western
and Aboriginal influences. The town's focal point,
the Todd Mall, hosts a number of Aboriginal art
galleries and community events. Alice Springs’
desert lifestyle has inspired several unique and
interesting events such as the Camel Cup, the
Henley-on-Todd Regatta and the Beanie Festival.
Social characteristics
Alice Springs is often referred to as the lesbian
capital of Australia due to the large percentage of
lesbians in the population. The town is a place
friendly to all people of all sexual orientations,
race, and social standing.
Events and festivals
Camel Cup, Alice SpringsThere are many festivals and
events, the town's focal point, the Todd Mall, hosts
a number of Aboriginal art galleries and community
events. Alice Springs’ desert lifestyle has inspired
several unique and interesting events such as the
Camel Cup, the Henley-on-Todd Regatta, Beanie
Festival and the Finke Desert Race. The Finke Desert
Race is some 400 kilometres (250 mi) south of Alice
Springs in the Simpson Desert.
The American population celebrates most of the major
American festivals, including Halloween,
Independence Day and Thanksgiving. A portion of the
Australian citizens engage in the festivities as
well.
Arts and entertainment
Alice Springs is Australia's art capital, home to
many local and Aboriginal art galleries. Indigenous
Australian art is largely the more dominant
showcasing the rich culture and native traditions
that abound in Central Australia. Trade in
Aboriginal art soared after the painting movement
began at Papunya, a Central Australian Aboriginal
settlement, and swept other indigenous communities.
Central Australia has borne some of the most
prominent names in Aboriginal art, including Emily
Kngwarreye, Minnie Pwerle, Clifford Possum
Tjapaltjarri, Albert Namatjira and Wenten Rubuntja.
Each year since 11 July 2003, the music festival,
Bass in the Dust has been hosted at Alice Springs
and the Araluen Centre for Arts and Entertainment
presents world-class ballets and orchestras, as well
as local performances.
Liz Phair included a song called "Alice Springs" on
her 1994 album Whip Smart. The group Midnight Oil
mentions Alice Springs in its song Kosciusko and in
Warakurna ('There is enough in Redfern as there is
in Alice'), and Pine Gap in its song Power and the
Passion.
The annual Desert Mob Art Show sees art collectors
and art lovers from all over the world travel to
Alice Springs to see works from Aboriginal art
centres in Central Australia, with works by artists
from remote areas of the Northern Territory, South
Australia and Western Australia. This show is in
conjunction with the Artist Association Desart and
usually runs in September of each year at the
Araluen Art Centre.
Nevil Shute's novel A Town Like Alice, and the
resulting film and television miniseries, takes its
name from Alice Springs, although little of the
action takes place there. The local library is the
Nevil Shute Memorial Library.
Recreation
Other leisure and entertainment activities include
hiking in the nearby MacDonnell Ranges, driving the
four-wheel drive tracks at Finke Gorge National Park
and visiting the many art galleries in Todd Mall.
On 2 September 2007, Australians in Alice Springs
challenge featured wild cat stew recipe or casserole
as solution to the millions of feral cats roaming
the outback. But wildlife activists strongly opposed
including the cat on the nation's menus.
Yearly, felines, descendants of domestic pets, kill
millions of small native animals, devouring almost
anything that moves, including small marsupials,
lizards, birds and spiders making them the most
serious threats to Australia's native fauna.
Aborigines roasted the cats on open fire since they
considered the dish delicious. Scientists warned
that eating wild cats could expose man to harmful
bacteria and toxins.
Parks and gardens
The Alice Springs Desert Park was created to educate
visitors about the many facets of the surrounding
desert environment. The arid climate botanic garden,
Olive Pink Botanic Garden, is a short distance from
the town centre. They were named after
anthropologist, naturalist and artist Olive Pink,
who lived in the town for almost 30 years and died
in 1975. She was well known locally and referred to
by all as Miss Pink. The Alice Springs Reptile
Centre is located in the town centre.
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