Hyden, Western Australia

Hyden is a small farming town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It is about 340 kilometers (210 miles) east of the state capital, Perth.

 Wave Rock 
Hyden is famous because it is very close to the world-famous natural rock formation called Wave Rock. Wave Rock is a huge granite cliff that is shaped exactly like a tall ocean wave just about to break. It is about 15 meters (49 feet) high and 110 meters (360 feet) long.

The rock is very old—about 2.7 billion years old. Colorful stripes on the rock are made by water running down the rock and dissolving minerals over time. The rock is important to the local Aboriginal people, the Njakinjaki people.

 Other Attractions 
Other attractions include:
Near Wave Rock, there are other natural and man-made attractions:
Hippo's Yawn: Another granite rock that looks like a hippopotamus yawning (opening its mouth very wide).
Mulka's Cave: A small cave with Aboriginal rock art, telling the story of an Aboriginal legend named Mulka.
The Humps: A massive granite rock formation north of Wave Rock, which is also a popular spot.
Lake Magic: A nearby salt lake where the water can change color from green to pink.
Wildflowers: During the spring (from about September to December), many different types of beautiful native wildflowers bloom in the area.

 History and Economy 
European farming in the Hyden area started around 1922. The town was officially set up in 1932. The main business in Hyden is agriculture, mostly growing wheat and other grains and raising sheep and cattle. More than 100,000 tourists visit Hyden every year to see Wave Rock, which helps the town's economy. A railway line was opened between Lake Grace and Hyden Rock in April 1933.Salt Pans and XMOs Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 590 December 1986 page 272