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Western Australia is the westernmost state of Australia, with a land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi). It is the largest state in Australia, constituting roughly one-third of the country's total area. Western Australia extends about 1,490 miles (2,400 km) from its tropical north to the coastal heaths of the south. The state's horizontal width is 771.36 miles (1241.39 km) from Perth east to Eucla, while its vertical length is 1,105.53 miles (1,779.18 km) from Kununurra south to Eucla.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Horizontal Width | 771.36 miles (1241.39 km) from Perth east to Eucla |
| Vertical Length | 1,105.53 miles (1,779.18 km) from Kununurra south to Eucla |
| Land Area | 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi) |
| Population | 2.965 million (as of June 2024) |
| Percentage of National Population | 10.9% |
| Population Density | Over 90% of the population live in the southwest corner, and around 80% in the state capital Perth |
| Highest Point | Mount Meharry, 4,111 feet (1,253 meters) above sea level |
| Lowest Recorded Temperature | −7.2°C (19.0°F) at Eyre Bird Observatory on 17 August 2008 |
| Highest Recorded Temperature | 50.7°C (123.3°F) in Onslow on 13 January 2022 |
| Number of Counties | 26 |
| Names of Counties | Beaufort, Carnarvon, Durham, Glenelg, Goderich, Grantham, Grey, Hay, Howick, Kent, Lanark, Lansdowne, Melbourne, Minto, Murray, Nelson, Peel, Plantagenet, Perth, Stirling, Sussex, Twiss, Victoria, Wellington, Wicklow, York |
| Capital | Perth |
| Landscape | Broad plateaus, mountain ranges, deserts, rugged coastline, rolling inland areas, limestone ranges and gorges, arid Cape Range |
| Climate | Tropical, desert, Mediterranean |
| Industries | Mining (iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, gold), agriculture, pastoralism, forestry, fishing |
| Geological History | Hadean zircons formed 4.4 billion years ago, stromatolites created by microbes 3.48 billion years ago |
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What You'll Learn
- Western Australia's horizontal width is 771.36 miles (1241.39 km) from Perth to Eucla
- It is Australia's largest state, with a land area of 2,527,013 sq km
- The state extends 1,490 miles (2,400 km) from north to south
- Western Australia occupies roughly one-third of the Australian continent
- The state's landscape consists of broad plateaus and mountain ranges like the Stirling Range
Western Australia's horizontal width is 771.36 miles (1241.39 km) from Perth to Eucla
Western Australia is the westernmost state of Australia, with a land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi). It is the largest state in Australia and the second-largest subdivision of any country on Earth. Western Australia occupies roughly one-third of the total area of the continent.
The horizontal width of Western Australia is 771.36 miles (1241.39 km) from Perth to Eucla. This is a point-to-point, straight-line measurement from a Mercator map projection and may vary using other map projections. The overwhelming majority of the population lives in the greater Perth area, which is one of the largest metropolitan regions in Australia.
Perth is closer in distance and time zone to Jakarta and Singapore than to Sydney. Over 90% of the state's population lives in the southwest corner, leaving the remainder of the state sparsely populated. The east of Western Australia is composed of immense deserts, including the Great Sandy Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert, and Great Victoria Desert.
The combination of low rainfall and high temperatures restricts most of the population and agricultural activities to the southwest of an imaginary line stretching from Geraldton on the state's western coast to Esperance on its southern coast. This area is known as the "comfortable zone."
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It is Australia's largest state, with a land area of 2,527,013 sq km
Western Australia (WA) is the largest state in Australia, with a land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi). It occupies roughly one-third of the total area of the continent. Western Australia extends about 1,490 miles (2,400 km) from its tropical north to the coastal heaths of the far south. The state is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the northeast, and South Australia to the southeast.
The landscape of Western Australia varies from broad plateaus in the north and west, several mountain ranges, and immense deserts in the east. The Kimberley region in the far north is a multisectioned plateau with a rugged coastline. The Great Sandy Desert, in the southwest, has 26-to-30-foot (8-to-9-metre) linear sand dunes. The Pilbara region, adjacent to the Great Sandy Desert, is a rugged, arid landscape of ancient folded and uplifted rocks. The Hamersley Range in Karijini National Park features spectacular red gorges.
The Yilgarn block constitutes most of the southwestern segment of Western Australia. It is a stable granite-gneiss shield area, or craton, similar to the Canadian Shield. The gently undulating plateau of the Yilgarn block lies between 1,000 and 2,000 feet (300 and 600 metres) above sea level. The Nullarbor Plain, a flat, waterless, and treeless area, bounds the Yilgarn block to the east. The Darling Range, running north-south for about 200 miles (320 km), separates the Yilgarn block from the Perth Basin coastal plain.
Western Australia has a diverse range of climates. The Kimberley region has a tropical climate, while the interior features deserts such as the Great Sandy Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert, and Great Victoria Desert. The southwest and southern coastal areas have a Mediterranean climate. Most of the state is subarid, with low rainfall and high temperatures. As a result, most population and agricultural activities are concentrated in the southwest, in what is known as the "comfortable zone."
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The state extends 1,490 miles (2,400 km) from north to south
Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is the largest state in Australia, covering a land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi). To put its size into perspective, Western Australia occupies roughly one-third of the total area of the entire Australian continent.
To the east of Western Australia lie immense deserts, including the Great Sandy Desert, the Little Sandy Desert, the Gibson Desert, and the Great Victoria Desert. The south-west and southern coastal areas of the state, on the other hand, enjoy a Mediterranean climate. The Yilgarn block, a stable granite-gneiss shield area, constitutes most of the southwestern segment of Western Australia. This gently undulating, weathered plateau lies between 1,000 and 2,000 feet (300 and 600 metres) above sea level.
The combination of low rainfall and high temperatures in most of Western Australia restricts population and agricultural activities to the "comfortable zone" in the southwest of the state. As a result, over 90% of the state's population resides in the southwest corner, with around 80% living in the state capital, Perth, and its greater metropolitan region.
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Western Australia occupies roughly one-third of the Australian continent
Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia, occupying roughly one-third of the Australian continent. It is the largest state in Australia, with a land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi). To put its size into perspective, WA extends about 1,490 miles (2,400 km) from its tropical north to the coastal heaths of the far south. The state is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the northeast, and South Australia to the southeast.
The landscape of Western Australia varies from broad plateaus and mountain ranges in the north and west to immense deserts in the east, including the Great Sandy Desert, the Little Sandy Desert, the Gibson Desert, and the Great Victoria Desert. The Kimberley region in the far north is a multisectioned plateau with a rugged coastline, while the southwest features the Pilbara region, known for its ancient folded and uplifted rocks. The Yilgarn block constitutes most of the southwestern segment of Western Australia, with a gently undulating, weathered granite-gneiss plateau.
The climate in Western Australia is diverse, ranging from tropical conditions in the Kimberley to deserts in the interior and a Mediterranean climate in the southwest and southern coastal areas. Snow is rare in the state, typically occurring only in the Stirling Range near Albany due to its elevation and southern location. The highest temperature recorded in Western Australia was 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) in Onslow in January 2022.
The capital of Western Australia is Perth, which is home to the majority of the state's population. The state's economy is driven by its significant mining sector, particularly iron ore, petroleum, and natural gas. Primary industries such as agriculture, pastoralism, and fishing also contribute significantly to the economy. Western Australia has a rich geological history, with the earliest direct known life on land, stromatolites, dating back around 3.48 billion years.
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The state's landscape consists of broad plateaus and mountain ranges like the Stirling Range
Western Australia is a massive state, covering a total area of 2.5 million square kilometres, making it the largest state in the country. To put its size into perspective, it is about as wide as the entire United States east of the Mississippi River. The state's landscape is incredibly diverse, ranging from pristine beaches and rugged coastal cliffs to vast deserts and ancient mountain ranges. One of the defining features of Western Australia's landscape is its broad plateaus and mountain ranges.
The Stirling Range, located in the southwestern region of the state, is one of the most prominent mountain ranges in Western Australia. It consists of a series of rugged peaks and steep cliffs that rise abruptly from the surrounding plain. The range spans approximately 65 kilometres in length and 20 kilometres in width, with its highest peak, Bluff Knoll, reaching a height of 1,095 metres above sea level. The Stirling Range is known for its unique biodiversity, hosting a wide variety of plant and animal life, including many endemic species found nowhere else on Earth.
Another significant mountain range in Western Australia is the Hamersley Range in the state's Pilbara region. This ancient range is characterized by its rugged red cliffs and rocky gorges, and it plays a crucial role in the region's mining industry, with significant iron ore deposits found throughout the area. The Hamersley Range is also known for its stunning natural attractions, such as Karijini National Park, where visitors can explore breathtaking gorges, waterfalls, and rock pools.
In addition to these mountain ranges, Western Australia is also home to vast plateaus that stretch across the state. The Yilgarn Craton, for example, is an ancient and stable crustal block that covers a significant portion of the state's southern and central regions. This broad plateau is characterized by its flat-lying to gently undulating terrain and plays an important role in the state's agriculture and mining industries. The Yilgarn Craton is also of significant geological interest, providing insights into the early history of the Earth's crust.
The state's landscape also includes the Nullarbor Plain, a vast, flat limestone plateau that stretches across Western Australia's southern coast, forming the southern edge of the Great Australian Bight. The Nullarbor is renowned for its vast, treeless landscapes and impressive coastal cliffs. It is also known for its extensive cave systems, including the famous Mammoth Cave, which contains fossils dating back thousands of years. The Nullarbor provides a unique and challenging environment for those who venture across it.
Overall, the landscape of Western Australia is incredibly diverse and captivating, offering a range of natural wonders that showcase the state's geological and ecological significance. From the majestic mountain ranges of the Stirling Range and Hamersley Range to the vast plateaus of the Yilgarn Craton and Nullarbor Plain, Western Australia's natural landscapes are a testament to the state's size and natural beauty. These landscapes not only provide a home to unique plant and animal life but also offer a range of outdoor experiences for adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike.
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Frequently asked questions
Western Australia is about 771.36 miles (1241.39 km) wide from Perth east to Eucla.
Western Australia is the largest state in Australia, with a land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi).
Western Australia occupies roughly one-third of the total area of the continent.
The horizontal width of Western Australia is 771.36 miles (1241.39 km) from Perth east to Eucla.
The vertical length of Western Australia is 1,105.53 miles (1,779.18 km) from Kununurra south to Eucla.
