Tourists gather at Uluru, Australia’s best known natural landmark. Visitor numbers have soared as the climbing ban approaches

Tens of thousands of tourists are rushing to the Australian outback to climb Uluru before a ban comes into force in 16 days.

New photographs at the rock, sacred to its Aboriginal owners, have revealed hundreds trying to complete the ascent at a time.

The images show tourists massing at the base before trying to use a metal chain to pull themselves up the rock which stands at 1,142 feet at its peak. It is hot, slippery and often windy. At least 35 people have died on Uluru since deaths began to be recorded in the 1950s.

Climbers join the queue to climb Uluru despite pleas from its Aboriginal owners who regard the site as sacred GETTY IMAGES

The Anangu Aboriginal people, the traditional owners of Uluru, have complained that the sacred site has been damaged by visitors who for years have ignored requests not