Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Order a flight of infused ya dong shots.
Tep Bar
Thai-Chinese makes up Bangkok’s largest diaspora.
Nai Ek Roll Noodle
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
6 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
7 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
8 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
9 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Australia Marble Bar Strelley Pool

Strelley Pool

Microscopic fossils suggest Australia may be the birthplace of sulphur-based life forms.

Marble Bar, Australia

Added By
amyfreeborn
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Strelley Pool, Western Australia  
Strelley Pool, Western Australia  
Microfossils from Strelley Pool  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Did life on Earth originate in Australia?

It is possible, given the finding in 2011 of what may be the Earth's oldest fossils, discovered in Western Australia. If you're willing to head to the remote Strelley Pool (about 1,500km north of the state capital, Perth), you can visit the very place.

Scientists from the University of Western Australia and the U.K.'s Oxford University found that microscopic fossils from Strelley Pool show convincing evidence for cells and bacteria living in an oxygen-free world over 3.4 billion years ago. They suggest that early life was sulphur-based, living off and metabolizing compounds containing sulphur, rather than oxygen, for energy and growth.

3.4 billion years ago the Earth was dominated by volcanic activity. The sky was cloudy, the waters hot, and land masses were small. Strelley Pool, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, would have been a seashore. It is now located about 125 miles (200 kilometers) inland from Port Headland. The microfossils collected from this location are well preserved between the quartz sand grains of one of the oldest beaches known on Earth, in some of the oldest sedimentary rocks that can be found anywhere.

In one trip you can stand at what may be the birthplace of life on Earth and visit the planet's oldest beach, all in the middle of a large, dry, red-earth landscape.

Related Tags

Water Geological Oddities Geology

Community Contributors

Added By

amyfreeborn

Edited By

Blindcolour

  • Blindcolour

Published

December 13, 2012

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201108233839/business-and-industry/sul
  • http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2011/110822.html
Strelley Pool
Marble Bar
Marble Bar, 6760
Australia
-21.048756, 119.974053
Get Directions

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Australia

Australia

Oceania

Places 610
Stories 94

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Australia

Australia

Oceania

Places 610
Stories 94

Related Places

  • Looking down at the water-carved tunnels

    Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

    Trümmelbach Falls

    Visit Europe's largest subterranean waterfall, carved by water from the glaciers of the towering peaks surrounding the valley.

  • A view of the perfectly round Lac Pavin.

    Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, France

    Lac Pavin

    This volcanic crater lake is renowned for its perfectly round shape, stunning blue-green waters, and unique geological properties.

  • The salt lake becomes colorful in warm temperatures because of algae growth

    Yuncheng, China

    Yuncheng Salt Lake

    Rainbow-hued in the summer and crystalline in the winter, this salty lake has inspired battles, temples, and plenty of awe.

  • Pertosa Caves.

    Muraglione, Italy

    Pertosa Caves

    Ride a boat through this magnificent underground world, which now doubles as a theater.

  • Scoria cone in the Waw an Namus caldera.

    Libya

    Waw an Namus

    Surrounded by a smudge of dark earth, this isolated volcano sits in stark contrast to the surrounding Sahara.

  • Lake Posta Fibreno

    Carpello, Italy

    Lake Posta Fibreno

    This serene, turquoise lake in an extraordinary nature reserve showcases a rare natural phenomenon.

  • A small spray blows over the crowd.

    Ensenada, Mexico

    La Bufadora

    Legend says one of the world's largest marine geysers is actually a whale that got wedged within the rocks.

  • Peñíscola, Spain

    Bufador de Peñiscola

    The blowhole bursts spectacularly right next to the buildings in a medieval seaside town.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.