Tourists are to be banned from climbing the popular site of Uluru in Australia following a decision by national park authorities.
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta national park board voted unanimously to ban the popular practice, ahead of the 34th anniversary of its requisition by Aboriginal locals.
The 1,142 feet sandstone formation, otherwise known as Ayers Rock, is considered a sacred place by many of the Aboriginal Anangu people.
The national park board, consisting of Australian government officials and Anangu representatives, made the decision after consulting with the site's traditional custodians, according to DW.com.
Sammy Wilson, chairman of the board, said: "It is an extremely important place, not a playground or a theme park like Disneyland.
"The government needs to respect what we are saying about our culture in the same way it expects us to abide by its laws. After much discussion, we have decided it is time."
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the sit on a royal tour of Australia in 2014. The Duke called it "quite breathtaking".
More than 30 people have died climbing the rock since the 1950s.
