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Mount Ainslie is a hill with an elevation of 843 m that is located in the northeastern suburbs of Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Mount Ainslie lies within part of the Canberra Nature Park and is visited by hundreds of tourists and local a day.

Location and features
The Mount Ainslie tourist outlook, one of Canberra's most popular, provides excellent views of central Canberra and to the south and Black Mountain to the west especially at sunset. According to an article written in 1922, this outlook 'will afford an ever changing bird's eye and panoramic picture of the city's buildings and beauty spots, as well as of the lovely plains that run to join the Yass Plains on the north.' An air beacon located at the summit is part of the national capital's air navigation system guiding air traffic towards the nearby Canberra Airport

A walking trail which leads from the back of the Australian War Memorial, called the Mount Ainslie Kokoda summit train, is well maintained containing steps and pavement to make the track to the summit more enjoyable for hikers. The trail is used by around 200 people each day. It has a number of plaques commemorating the battles fought in World War II in the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea, with the plaques set out as though it was on the Kokoda Trail. A quarry is located around 200 m from the peak. Although paved trails, there are many trails on Mount Ainslie that go off track. Some, as a matter of a fact, go straight up the mountain to the summit. Hikers who hike these trails are in for a steeper and more tedious climb. Mount Ainslie is the northernmost point of a land axis, planned by Walter Burley Griffin, that stretches through North and South Canberra. This axis takes in a birds eye view of the Australian War Memorial and the old and new Parliament Houses.

Mount Ainslie is a pet friendly nature reserve containing many different recreational activities. There are horse, biking, and running/walking trails that are commonly used on a day to day basis. Picnic tables are stationed throughout the mountain which provide for a peaceful and green lunch. Located at the base of the mountain, bathrooms and water fountains are available to the public.

History
Mount Ainslie is named after the man who established the district of Canberra. It is named after James Ainslie, who was a soldier that was wounded in the Battle of Waterloo in the mid 1810’s. After, he moved to Australia and was employed to drive a mob of sheep south. He stationed his sheep on Mount Ainslie establishing the district of Canberra. James Ainslie later oversaw Duntroon Station located at the bottom of Mount Ainslie for another 10 years until he returned to Scotland. After being a grazing ground for Ainslie's cattle, Mount Ainslie became on of Canberra's most famous landmarks.

Mount Ainslie has culture significance as well. According to Ngambri Elder Shane Mortimer “Ngambri”, Canberra’s original name, in the Guumaal language, means cleavage, the space between a woman’s breasts. In the Ngambri country, the Black Mountains and Mount Ainslie are the "breasts" and the space in between (cleavage) is Canberra. This tribe native to Canberra honors the mountains and the Canberra region.

View
As you look off the summit of Mount Ainslie, multiple features of Canberra are able to be seen. Towards the southwest lies the Australian War Memorial as well as the Parliament house across Lake Burley Griffin. Farther off in the distance lies the Brindabella Mountains which range hundreds of miles. Toward the west are the Black mountains which are most popular to view during the evening sunsets. Mount Ainslie also boarders Mount Majura Nature Reserve and Mount Pleasant Nature reserve. At the bottom of the mountain lies Remembrance Nature Park and local housing.

Wildlife
Mount Ainslie is home to many native Australian species. Hundreds of kangaroos can be found grazing at the bottom of the mountain. The Drooping She-oak and Eucalyptus trees branches provide for the perfect shelter for snakes. Brown, Redbelly Black, and Tiger snakes have made occasional appearances throughout the summer time. In winter, the snakes hibernate and burrow under the rocky terrain of the mountain. As Australia is most known for, many varieties of spiders can be found such as Huntsman spiders and Wolf Spiders. Different species of birds are seen on Mount Ainslie including Cockatoos, Galas, and Magpies. Mount Ainslie contains one of the most diverse range of wildlife and plants attracting more and more tourists everyday.

Summit design competition
In 2016 the ACT Government and the National Capital Authority ran a design competition for, with the aim to produce a ten-year strategy for the Mount Ainslie summit. The competition winners were Sue Barnsley and Jane Irwin, who proposed new parking, signage, picnic areas, lawns and plantings. Over the past two years, improvement upon the mountain has been seen from the new addition of picnic table and paved trails.