Lexi Webster
Australia is a country and continent with diverse landscapes and landforms. It is the flattest continent and, except for Antarctica, the driest. The landforms in Australia include water bodies, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, rock formations, and deserts. The four main landform regions in Australia are the Coastal Plains, the Eastern Highlands, the Central Lowlands, and the Western Plateau. These regions have been formed through physical processes such as movements in the Earth's crust, river erosion, and changes in climate and sea level. Australia is home to some of the most recognizable rock formations in the world, including Uluru, which is the largest monolith in the world and was formed about 500 million years ago. The country also boasts impressive high country, with its ten highest mountains located within six kilometers of one another.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Landform regions | Four: Coastal Plains, Eastern Highlands, Central Lowlands, and Western Plateau |
| Relative flatness | Lowest continent in the world with an average elevation of 330 meters |
| Highest peak | Mount Kosciuszko at 7,310 feet (2,228 meters) |
| Driest continent | Except for Antarctica |
| Rock formations | Uluru, one of the most recognizable in the world |
| Mountain ranges | Flinders Ranges, Blue Mountains, Australian Alps, Snowy Mountains |
| Waterfalls | Horizontal Falls, one of the greatest natural wonders of the world |
| Rivers | The Murray River, Darling River |
| Plains | Nullarbor Plain, red and black soil plains of Queensland and New South Wales |
| Coastline | The Twelve Apostles, Heart Reef |
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What You'll Learn
- Australia's landforms include some of the world's most recognisable rock formations, such as Uluru
- The Great Dividing Range is a chain of highlands that runs inland from the coast
- The Western Plateau is a large area of flat land and is the largest landform region in Australia
- The Eastern Highlands is one of the highest landform regions in Australia
- The Central Lowlands is one of the lowest landform regions in Australia
Australia's landforms include some of the world's most recognisable rock formations, such as Uluru
In addition to Uluru, Australia boasts a diverse range of landscapes and landforms. It is a continent of vast plains, with approximately 94% of its land area below 2,000 feet (600 metres) in elevation. Despite its flatness, Australia is home to several mountain ranges, including the Great Dividing Range, which runs along the eastern coast, and the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. The country's highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko, rises to 7,310 feet (2,228 metres) above sea level.
Australia is also known for its arid regions, with much of the central depression and western plateau comprising deserts. However, these arid areas often conceal great mineral wealth. The country is surrounded by thousands of islands, including the world's largest sand island. Additionally, Australia boasts impressive water bodies, such as the mighty Murray River, the Darling River, and the Great Barrier Reef, a vast coral reef system off the coast of Queensland.
The landforms of Australia have been shaped over millions of years by geological processes such as weathering and erosion. The continent's position at the edge of a significant geological zone has also contributed to its unique landscape. Australia's landforms provide a habitat for diverse flora and fauna, with the country being known for its unique and diverse wildlife. Furthermore, many of Australia's landforms hold cultural and spiritual significance for the country's indigenous people, with places like Uluru being deeply rooted in Aboriginal history and Dreamtime stories.
Overall, Australia's landforms showcase a diverse array of natural wonders, from iconic rock formations like Uluru to expansive plains, rugged mountains, and pristine water bodies. These landscapes have shaped the country's ecology, culture, and history, making them not just geographical features but also integral parts of Australia's national identity.
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The Great Dividing Range is a chain of highlands that runs inland from the coast
Australia is home to some of the world's most recognisable rock formations, such as Uluru, which was laid down in an inland sea about 500 million years ago. The country also has impressive 'high country', but it is, in fact, the flattest continent and the lowest in terms of elevation.
One of the most distinctive topographic features of Australia is the Great Dividing Range, a chain of highlands that runs inland from the coast. Also known as the East Australian Cordillera or the Eastern Highlands, the range is a complex system of mountain ranges, plateaus, and rolling hills. It is the fifth-longest land-based mountain chain globally and the longest entirely within a single country.
The Great Dividing Range stretches more than 3,500 kilometres (2,175 miles) from Dauan Island in the Torres Strait off the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula. It runs the entire length of the eastern coastline through Queensland and New South Wales, then turns west across Victoria before ending in the Wimmera plains west of the Grampians region. The width of the range varies from about 160 kilometres (100 miles) to over 300 kilometres (190 miles), and in some places, it can be up to 400 kilometres (249 miles) wide.
The range is defined by a watershed boundary, with rivers east and southeast of it draining into the South Pacific, the Tasman Sea, or the Bass Strait. Rivers west of the range drain in various directions, depending on their location relative to the latitudes. The Great Dividing Range is also home to the headwaters of several of Australia's principal rivers, including the Murray River, the country's longest.
The Great Dividing Range was formed over 300 million years ago during the Carboniferous period when Australia collided with what are now parts of South America and New Zealand. The range has experienced significant erosion since its formation. For tens of thousands of years before British colonisation, the ranges were inhabited by various Aboriginal Australian nations and clans.
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The Western Plateau is a large area of flat land and is the largest landform region in Australia
Australia is the flattest continent and, except for Antarctica, the driest. The Western Plateau is a large area of flat land and is the largest landform region in Australia. Covering two-thirds of the continent, it is composed predominantly of the remains of the ancient rock shield of Gondwana. The plateau covers 2,700,000 square kilometres (1,000,000 sq mi) of arid land, including large parts of Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory.
The Western Plateau extends from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Onslow, encompassing the cities of Perth and Albany. Rain is scarce in this region, and aside from a few permanent waterholes, surface water is typically absent unless heavy rainfall occurs. The region features extensive outcrops of flat-lying massive sandstone that have been dissected to create striking isolated rock features known as plateaus, mesas, and buttes.
The Western Plateau is Australia's largest drainage division, and its appearance is largely the result of past climatic conditions. The region contains remnants of laterite, indicating that during the Paleogene and Neogene periods, the area had low relief and a humid tropical climate. Similar conditions that form laterite currently exist in regions such as Southeast Asia and the Congo River basin.
The Nullarbor Plain, a karst area, is found in the Western Plateau and is notable for its flatness, allowing the Trans-Australian Railway to run straight for 300 miles (500 km). The plateau also includes the Gibson Desert, which consists largely of a laterite-capped plain, and the Canning Basin, which is occupied by active sand ridges.
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The Eastern Highlands is one of the highest landform regions in Australia
Australia is the flattest continent and, except for Antarctica, the driest. It is also the lowest continent, with an average elevation of 330 meters. The Eastern Highlands, also known as the East Australian Cordillera or the Great Dividing Range, is a cordillera system in eastern Australia that runs roughly parallel to the east coast. It is the fifth-longest land-based mountain chain in the world and the longest entirely within a single country. The Great Dividing Range includes the Australian Alps, which contain the country's highest peak, Mount Kosciusko, at 2,228 meters (7,310 feet) above sea level. The range also includes smaller spurs and ranges such as the Dandenong Ranges, Bunya Mountains, Blue Mountains, and McPherson Ranges. The Eastern Highlands form a significant barrier in some areas, such as the Snowy Mountains and the Victorian Alps, and are the source of much of eastern Australia's water supply.
The Great Dividing Range covers over 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) from Dauan Island in the Torres Strait off the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula to the southern seaboard of Tasmania. The range is characterized by expansive mountain ranges, plateaus, and rolling hills. While some peaks reach heights of over 2,000 meters (6,600 feet), most of the mountains are not very steep due to erosion over time, and virtually all peaks can be reached without specialized mountaineering equipment. The Eastern Highlands are dotted with hundreds of peaks and are surrounded by smaller mountain ranges, canyons, valleys, and plains of regional significance. Some of the major plains include the High Plains of South-Eastern Australia, the Southern Highlands, and the Bogong High Plains of Victoria.
The Eastern Highlands have a strong natural history and cultural significance for the towns and cities located on and around the range, including Canberra, Toowoomba, and the outer suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Cairns in north Queensland. Parts of the highlands that were not developed for agriculture or pastoral uses have now been included in National Parks. The lower reaches are used for forestry, an activity that has caused some friction with conservationists.
The Eastern Highlands are part of the diverse geography of Australia, which also includes snow-capped mountains, large deserts, tropical and temperate forests, grasslands, heathlands, and woodlands. The Eastern Highlands, in particular, showcase the wide variations in landforms and climate across the continent.
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The Central Lowlands is one of the lowest landform regions in Australia
Australia is the flattest continent and has the lowest, flattest, and oldest continental landmass on Earth. The Central Lowlands is one of the lowest landform regions in Australia. The Central Lowlands is part of the Eastern alluvial Plains and Lowlands, which include the Murray-Darling Basin, extending to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Murray-Darling Basin covers the southern part of the Eastern alluvial Plains and Lowlands.
The Central Lowlands are characterised by relatively flat terrain and low elevation. The region is known for its agricultural productivity and is an important area for farming and livestock grazing. The lowlands are formed by the gradual erosion of the landscape over millions of years, resulting in a gentle slope with minimal elevation changes.
The climate of the Central Lowlands is relatively mild, with less contrast between summer and winter temperatures compared to other regions. However, the area experiences significant seasonal variations, with maximum temperatures reaching up to 40°C during the central desert summers and dropping to 0°C in the higher regions of the southeast during winter. The rainfall in this region is highly variable, with frequent droughts lasting several seasons influenced by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation.
The Central Lowlands are also characterised by their unique water systems. The Murray River, Australia's longest river, flows through this region. However, similar to the rest of Australia, many of the rivers in the Central Lowlands do not have a consistent flow. They experience years of low flows followed by periods of flooding. The rivers in this region often drain inland and end in ephemeral salt lakes, with only a few natural freshwater lakes found in coastal areas, wetlands, and central desert regions.
The Central Lowlands are not just known for their flat terrain but also for their natural landmarks and unique geological features. This region is home to some of Australia's most iconic landscapes, including the Great Barrier Reef, the Blue Mountains, and Uluru (Ayers Rock), a sacred site for the Aboriginal people. The Central Lowlands showcase the diversity of Australia's geography, ranging from tropical and temperate forests to grasslands, heathlands, and woodlands.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is the flattest continent and has vast plains. The country can be divided into four major landform regions: the Coastal Plains, the Eastern Highlands, the Central Lowlands, and the Western Plateau.
Australia has some of the world's most recognisable rock formations, including Uluru, Heart Reef, and the Bungle Bungle Range.
The Flinders Ranges are the largest mountain chain in South Australia. The Australian Alps and the Blue Mountains are also notable mountain ranges.
The Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay are described by David Attenborough as "one of the greatest natural wonders of the world".
The Great Barrier Reef, the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains, and the Daintree Rainforest are all unique and significant Australian landforms.
