Dandenong Ranges
The Dandenong Ranges (commonly just The Dandenongs) are a set of low mountain ranges, rising to 633 metres at Mount Dandenong, approximately east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The ranges consist mostly of rolling hills, steeply weathered valleys and gullies covered in thick temperate rainforest, predominantly of tall mountain ash trees and dense ferny undergrowth. After European settlement in the region, the range was used as a major local source of timber for Melbourne. The ranges were popular with day-trippers from the 1870s onwards. Much of the Dandenongs were protected by parklands as early as 1882 and by  1987 these parklands were amalgamated to form the Dandenong Ranges National Park, which was subsequently expanded in 1997. The range receives light to moderate snowfalls a few times in most years, frequently between late winter and late spring. Today, The Dandenongs are home to over 100,000 residents and are popular amongst visitors, many of whom stay for the weekend at the various bed & breakfasts throughout the region. The popular Puffing Billy Railway, a heritage steam railway, runs through the hills villages of the eastern Dandenong Ranges. Etymology. The etymology of the Dandenongs is a complicated one. Two names have been  used to refer to the ranges; "Corhanwarrabul" and "Dandenong", both derived from the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people. It is thought that the name "Dandenong" was applied to the ranges due to being the origin of the Dandenong Creek; however, the original name for Dandenong Creek was "Narra Narrawong". The origin of the name "Dandenong" is unknown, as is its meaning or correct spelling with other variations include; "Tanjenong", "Tangynon" and "Bangeong". In any case, both names relate to watercourses rather than mountains or ranges, as indicated by the "ong" ending. Given that the name "Dandenong" may not apply  to anything in the immediate area, the relevance of the name "Corhanwarrabul" becomes apparent. "Carhanwarrabul" (pronounced either "corhan-warrabul" with a silent "h", or "cor-hana-warrabul") or "Koran warrabin" was the original name for one of the two main summits, perhaps both or perhaps the entire range. The name applied to the main summits and was in continued use up until around 1900, when the name "Dandenong" appeared. At any rate, "Corhanwarrabul" remains the most relevant name for the ranges to date. Geology and ecology. The range is the remains of an extinct volcano last active 373 million years  ago. It consists predominantly of Devonian dacite and rhyodacite. The topography consists of a series of ridges dissected by deeply cut streams. Sheltered gullies in the south of the range are home to temperate rain forest, fern gullies and Mountain Ash forest "Eucalyptus regnans", whereas the drier ridges and exposed northern slopes are covered by dry sclerophyll forest of stringybarks and box. The entire range is highly prone to bushfires, the most recent of which have been the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, the 1997 Dandenong Ranges bushfires and small fires during the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. A number of  watercourses originate in the Dandenongs, these include: Wildlife. The Dandenong Ranges are home to a variety of native Australian mammal, bird, reptile and invertebrate species. Well-represented bird species include the Sulfur-crested cockatoo, Superb lyrebird, Laughing kookaburra, and Crimson Rosella. Mammals include the Short-beaked echidna, Common wombat, Sugar glider, and Swamp wallaby. Invertebrates include two species of burrowing crayfish. Climate. The Dandenong Ranges climate is generally mild and wet, with daily temperature variation generally low, often as low as 1 degree in the winter months. Rainfall is fairly uniform through the year, tending to peak between April and  October with lower rainfall during January and February. The mean annual rainfall is between 1000 and 1500 mm, increasing with elevation and from west to east. The elevation means that temperatures are typically 2 to 5 °C cooler than the lower suburbs of Melbourne to the west , with temperatures typically lowering by 1 °C for every 150 m of elevation. Due to the elevation, fog is common in the winter months. As a result of its elevation, snow typically falls one or two times a year at higher elevations, mostly between June and October. A rare summer snow  occurred on Christmas Day 2006 . The local region has experienced substantial warming in recent decades and heavy snowfalls which were once common have become rare. The last significant snowfall to affect the Dandenong Ranges was on August 10, 2008, when as much fell at the highest elevations. A Bureau of Meteorology weather station sits at an elevation of 513 m in the Ferny Creek Reserve in the southern part of the Dandenong Ranges. This weather station replaced one that was previously located on the summit of Dunns Hill. Settlements in the Dandenong Ranges. Around 240,000 people live in and around  the Dandenong Ranges, depending on the definition. The following settlements are located in the Dandenongs themselves (72,500~): Some settlements located on and around the plateau to the east of the ranges are sometimes included (14,200~): Settlements in the southern and western foothills are also sometimes included (180,500~): Human History. The ranges are located near the boundary between the Wurundjeri and Bunurong nations' territories. The two nations were part of the Kulin alliance and were most often on friendly terms. The mountain range, however, was not often frequented by either nations people as mountainous areas were often considered one of many  resting places for various spirits. In 1938, the aircraft "Kyeema" crashed on the western face of Mount Corhanwarrabul due to heavy fog and poor navigation. Eighteen people died. Utilities. Transmission towers. There are several large television transmission towers on various summits that were initially constructed to broadcast TV to Central Victoria Channel 7, 9 and 10 all transmit from the 204M high ' Ornata Road ' TXA owned tower just to the South of Burke's Lookout. This tower also carries some of Melbourne, Victoria's commercial FM broadcast services. It also carries DAB+ digital radio services. Channel 2 services ( ABC , JJJ, emergency services, Govt owned ) transmit from the 130M high Broadcast Australia ' Eyre Road ' tower. This is an interesting tower in that the base is of four legged, freestanding design, while the upper portion is guyed by two sets of three guy cables. This tower is just to the North of Burke's Lookout. Adjacent to the Broadcast Australia tower, is the TXA ' Eyre Road ' standby tower, capable of transmitting 7, 9, and 10 signals in the event of an Ornata Road transmitter/antenna failure. This tower stands at 130M also and is a conventional four legged freestanding  design. About 2 km to the North of this group of three towers, stands the original Channel 9 tower, built in 1956 to a height of 69M. This tower, on Observatory Road and adjacent to the Skyhigh lookout and restaurant now carries only some of Melbourne's commercial FM broadcast channels. Tourism and attractions. Sherbrooke Falls, Sherbrooke Regulations. Camping is not permitted within the National Park and fire restrictions may apply during the summer months. There are no rubbish bins in the national parks and visitors must leave with all items that they arrived with. Camping is permitted near Gembrook  at Kurth Kiln Regional Park. Please stay informed and be prepared, so as to ensure you have a fun and safe experience. It is important to observe weather conditions and warnings during the bushfire season and follow official recommendations. Bushfires. Due to the climate of the region, the type of vegetation and the topography, the Dandenong Ranges periodically experience bushfires. Some of the recent occurrences included: