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Australian Cave Explorer Discovers Evidence of Ancient Nullarbor Tornado

An Australian caver has uncovered geological evidence of a powerful tornado that swept across the Nullarbor Plain, with an 11-kilometre scar marking the path of the ancient weather phenomenon.

LSN India · 21 September 2026

Australian Cave Explorer Discovers Evidence of Ancient Nullarbor Tornado

An Australian cave explorer has made a significant geological discovery while investigating the Nullarbor Plain, identifying an 11-kilometre scar that researchers believe marks the path of an ancient tornado. The distinctive surface feature, which remained largely unnoticed until the recent survey, provides rare physical evidence of extreme weather events in the region's distant past.

The Nullarbor Plain, which spans across South Australia and Western Australia, is known for its vast limestone landscape and extensive cave systems. The discovery of such a well-preserved tornado scar offers valuable insights into the region's climatic history and the intensity of weather patterns that have shaped the continent over millennia.

The findings have drawn interest from geologists and meteorologists studying historical extreme weather events in Australia. The linear scar pattern is consistent with tornadic activity, though researchers continue to investigate the precise age and characteristics of the phenomenon that created it.

This discovery adds to our understanding of the Nullarbor's geological and environmental history, demonstrating that the apparently static landscape holds numerous clues about Australia's past climate patterns and natural hazards. The work exemplifies how cave exploration and geological surveys can reveal hidden chapters in the Earth's history.