Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is a large country with a diverse range of physical features, from arid deserts to lush rainforests and stunning coastlines. The country's unique geography, including its position under a subtropical high-pressure belt, makes it the flattest continent and, except for Antarctica, the driest. The physical characteristics of Australia have shaped human activity and settlement patterns, with 80% of the population living within 25km of the coast. The natural landscape has been significantly impacted by human activities, including urban development and large-scale agriculture and mining operations. Australia's physical features also support a wide range of ecosystems, with unique plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. The country's natural wonders, such as the Great Barrier Reef, have also made tourism the top economic activity.
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What You'll Learn
- Tourism: The Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, and other natural wonders attract many visitors
- Urban Development: Coast-hugging cities expand, balancing growth with conservation
- Agriculture: Australia exports wool, wheat, beef, fruit, and wine
- Mining: Mineral-rich lands were once home to Aboriginal people
- Climate: From arid deserts to tropical rainforests, Australia's climate varies
Tourism: The Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, and other natural wonders attract many visitors
Australia's natural wonders, such as the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru, are major tourist attractions, with tourism being the country's number one economic activity. The Great Barrier Reef, a United Nations World Heritage Site, spans over 2,300 kilometres (1,430 miles) down Australia's eastern coastline. It is the world's largest coral reef system and is home to an abundance of marine life, including coral formations, giant clams, rare species of whales, six of the world's seven marine turtle species, and over 1,600 species of fish. Tourists can explore the reef through scuba diving, snorkelling, boat rides, helicopter rides, and even submarine rides.
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is located in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is a sacred site for the Aborigines and is listed as a World Heritage Site. Uluru is the world's largest sandstone monolith, measuring 348 metres (1,140 feet) high and 9.5 kilometres (6 miles) in circumference. Tourists can explore the area through locally guided tours, art trails, and road trips through the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The park offers a range of accommodations and attractions tailored to different access needs, including hearing loss, vision loss, and wheelchair access.
In addition to these iconic destinations, Australia offers a diverse range of tourism experiences. The country is known for its unique species of plants and animals, including marsupials and poisonous snakes and insects. The Gold Coast, with its beautiful sandy beaches, is a popular destination, particularly for tourists from Japan. The outback, with its vast expanse and spectacular landscapes, is also a drawcard for visitors.
The Australian government has recognised the importance of tourism and has successfully marketed the country as an attractive place to visit. With its natural wonders, diverse environments, and cultural experiences, Australia continues to be a sought-after destination for travellers from around the world.
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Urban Development: Coast-hugging cities expand, balancing growth with conservation
Australia is one of the most highly urbanised societies in the world, with 74.5% of its population living in major urban centres. Urban development in Australia involves the physical growth and expansion of urban areas, cities, and towns to accommodate population and economic growth. Over 80% of the population lives in the coastal area, with many on the fringe of bushland and rivers, making them vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Eastern Australia dominates all urban development in the country, with cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide located on the eastern coastline. Perth, with two million people, anchors the western side of the country. The interior of Australia has a scattering of towns, such as Alice Springs, but the rugged environment yields few locations for large urban settlements.
As Australia continues to urbanise, urban development is critical for accommodating population growth and supporting economic activity. Urban planning in Australia involves the process of proactively envisioning, managing, and regulating how cities and urban spaces will grow and develop over the long term. It encompasses the planning, design, construction, and management of urban environments, including building houses, commercial buildings, roads, parks, and community facilities to meet demand.
The key objectives of Australian urban planning are to facilitate economic prosperity, promote social inclusion and access through transport and services, ensure environmentally sustainable development, and preserve local character and cultural heritage. Climate change is an important factor in decision-making for urban planning, and the Australian government is developing climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
To balance growth with conservation, Australia has strict guidelines in place for urban development and planning. Heritage is of fundamental significance, and community engagement is now seen as crucial in the decision-making process. The Green Bans movement in the 1970s, for example, successfully defended the demolition of older-style buildings to make way for new developments. Today, laws and policies are in place to conserve and protect historic buildings across the country.
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Agriculture: Australia exports wool, wheat, beef, fruit, and wine
Australia has a diverse agricultural sector, producing a range of crops and livestock products. The country is a major agricultural producer and exporter, with around 421,000 people employed in agriculture, forestry, and fishing as of 2023. Despite its arid climate, Australia has successfully promoted long-term agricultural reforms that have greatly increased the country's agricultural industry.
One of the key features of Australian agriculture is livestock grazing, which occurs in most areas of the country. Grazing land tenure is a mix of freehold and leasehold from the government, with family-owned and operated farms remaining the dominant unit. The eastern and southern coasts of the mainland, as well as the slopes of Tasmania, are the best-watered areas, making them suitable for grazing and dairy farming.
Australia is a leading producer and exporter of wool, with sheep grazing being a significant industry. The country also exports beef, with cattle grazing being widespread, particularly in the arid and semi-arid tropical areas. In addition, Australia produces and exports wheat, with wheat farming being an important employer in the agricultural sector.
The country is also known for its fruit and wine production. Horticultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts, contribute significantly to Australia's farm sales, with an estimated value of A$12 billion. Additionally, Australia is a significant producer of grapes, ranking 13th in the world in 2018.
While Australia faces challenges such as poor soil quality and water scarcity, its agricultural sector has been resilient and productive. The country's biosecurity system plays a crucial role in protecting against pests and diseases, providing a significant trade advantage and maintaining access to valuable export markets.
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Mining: Mineral-rich lands were once home to Aboriginal people
Australia's mineral-rich lands have been home to Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years. The Aboriginal people have lived across the Australian continent, adapting to diverse environments and climate change, and developing one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth.
The Mirrar and other bininj (Aboriginal) people, for example, have lived in the area of Australia that now contains the Ranger and Jabiluka mineral leases for tens of thousands of years. The mineral-rich arid lands of the interior of Australia have been the site of struggles over access to land between indigenous peoples and resource industries.
The Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966 (SA) was the first major recognition of Aboriginal land rights by any Australian government, allowing for parcels of Aboriginal land previously held by the SA Government to be handed to the Aboriginal Lands Trust of SA. Despite this, indigenous Australians continue to face the erosion of their property rights, with large agricultural and mining operations taking over lands once used by the Aborigines without adequate compensation.
Mining operations on Aboriginal lands have become highly regulated, but sacred sites within the Jabiluka and Ranger mineral leases, such as the Boywek-Almundj Sacred Site Complex, have not been given "protection" by the mining companies or by the government, despite the immense cultural, spiritual, and legal significance of these sites.
The development of mines in these areas increases the presence and pressure of non-Aboriginal cultural practices, institutions, and economic values, entrenching the dominance of non-Aboriginal interests and threatening the living traditions of the Aboriginal people.
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Climate: From arid deserts to tropical rainforests, Australia's climate varies
Australia's climate varies significantly, from arid deserts to tropical rainforests. The country experiences a wide range of weather conditions due to its large size and unique geographical location.
The northern part of Australia has a tropical climate, with areas of grassland and desert. The tropical north experiences a wet and dry season, with the wet season bringing high humidity, monsoonal rains, and storms. The dry season, from May to September, is characterised by warm, sunny days and cooler nights. The Northern Territory has two distinct climate zones: the northern zone, including Darwin, has a tropical savannah climate, while the southern zone experiences a more temperate climate.
The rest of the country, including the desert centre, is arid or semi-arid, with little rainfall. The seasons are more defined in these regions, with very hot summers and relatively cool winters. Central Australia receives less than 250 mm of annual rainfall. The east coast of Australia, the most populated and tourist-frequented area, enjoys a pleasant climate.
Tasmania, in contrast, has a cool, temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Summer temperatures range from 21°C to 24°C in different parts of the state, while the Central Plateau experiences much cooler weather, with February temperatures in Liawenee ranging from 4°C to 17°C.
Overall, Australia is the second driest continent, after Antarctica. The country generally experiences dry summers in the south and dry winters in the north due to the influence of the subtropical high-pressure belt. Low rainfall is typical for inland western regions, while the far north experiences a monsoonal 'wet' season, and the coastal strip has warm subtropical conditions.
The diverse climates of Australia support a wide range of unique ecosystems, including tropical and subtropical rainforests, eucalyptus forests, and the iconic Great Barrier Reef. These ecosystems are home to numerous plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
The physical features of Australia are incredibly unique and varied, ranging from stunning coastal landscapes to arid deserts and lush rainforests. Australia is the lowest continent in the world with an average elevation of only 330m. It is also the flattest continent and, except for Antarctica, the driest. Australia has some of the oldest geological features in the world, with the oldest known rocks dating back more than 3000 million years ago. The country is also rich in minerals and metals and is the world's fourth-largest producer of gold.
Due to various geographical features, almost 80% of the Australian population lives within 25km of the coast, with 73% of its inhabitants living in major coastal urban centres. The Coastal Plains of the eastern states of Australia, the Swan Coastal Plain in the southwest, and the eastern seaboard of the mainland are the most densely populated areas of the country. The inland areas of Australia are virtually uninhabited.
Australia's physical features, including its diverse landforms, climates, and ecosystems, contribute significantly to the economy through tourism. The country's unique landscapes, such as the Great Barrier Reef, attract millions of tourists each year. Australia is also an important exporter of agricultural goods like wool, wheat, beef, fruit, and wine.
The physical characteristics of Australia have played a significant role in shaping the country's history. The Aboriginal people, who have lived in Australia for tens of thousands of years, have managed and cared for the land, shaping the environment and its biota. However, during the colonial period, large sections of land once used by the Aborigines were taken over by the government and private interests for agricultural and mining operations, leading to conflicts over land ownership.
Australia's diverse physical features support a wide range of unique ecosystems that are home to numerous plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. The country's tropical and subtropical rainforests, such as the Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, are characterized by high biodiversity and are home to iconic Australian animals such as koalas and kangaroos. The Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia's most famous physical features, is also a critical habitat for marine life.
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