Lexi Webster
Australia is a country located on the eponymous continent within the region of Australasia/Oceania in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the sixth-largest country in the world by area of jurisdiction, comprising a territorial area of 7,688,287 sq km (2,968,464 sq mi). The geography of Australia is extremely diverse, ranging from snow-capped mountains to large deserts, tropical and temperate forests, grasslands, heathlands, and woodlands. The mainland can be divided into four major landform regions: the Coastal Plains, the Eastern Highlands, the Central Lowlands, and the Western Plateau. The Eastern Highlands are made up of a series of mountains in the south topped by Mount Kosciuszko, and volcanic plugs, ash domes, and flow remnants further north. The Great Dividing Range, a chain of highlands, runs inland from the coast, often appearing as a bold range of mountains, though few of its peaks exceed 5,000 feet. The Western Plateau, which makes up more than half of the country, is a relatively flat area about 183 meters above sea level, with low mountainous ranges in the north and isolated uplands in the Northern Territory. Australia is also home to some of the most recognizable rock formations in the world, including Uluru, a sacred site of Aboriginal peoples.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Size | Sixth-largest country in the world |
| Geography | Diverse, including snow-capped mountains, large deserts, tropical and temperate forests, grasslands, heathlands and woodlands |
| Terrain | Flat, with some mountain ranges and hills |
| Landforms | Four major regions: Coastal Plains, Eastern Highlands, Central Lowlands and Western Plateau |
| Climate | Variable, with high rainfall along the Coastal Plains and dry conditions in the Western Plateau |
| Land use | Agriculture, mining, and wool industry |
| Natural landmarks | Uluru, Great Barrier Reef, Blue Mountains, Kakadu National Park, Shark Bay, Tasmanian Wilderness |
| Human habitation | Scattered, with most dense population along the Coastal Plains |
| Indigenous population | 3.2% of the total population, with the highest proportion in the Northern Territory (26.3%) |
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What You'll Learn
The Great Dividing Range
The presence of the Great Dividing Range has a significant impact on Australia's climate. Areas to the east of the mountain range in southern New South Wales often experience the Föhn effect, a dry wind originating from the range that increases fire danger during warm months. The range also shields southeastern regions, including Sydney, Central Coast, and Illawarra, from cold fronts during the cool season. The eastern uplands and coastal lowlands created by the range have influenced the country's precipitation patterns.
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The Great Barrier Reef
The reef is a very popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world and generating over AUD$3 billion per year. Visitors can enjoy a range of experiences, including snorkelling, scuba diving, aircraft or helicopter tours, glass-bottomed boat viewing, whale watching, and swimming with dolphins.
However, the Great Barrier Reef faces several environmental threats, including the runoff of human-made pollutants, climate change, and the dumping of dredging sludge. Coral bleaching events, caused by warming ocean temperatures, have resulted in the loss of over half of the reef's coral cover since 1985. Despite these challenges, the Great Barrier Reef remains a breathtakingly beautiful and ecologically significant natural wonder.
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The Eastern Highlands
The Great Dividing Range is the definitive watershed for the river systems in eastern Australia. The Snowy River flows down the steep eastern slope, while the Darling, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, and Goulburn rivers drain the gentle western slope to join the Murray River. The range is also the source of virtually all of eastern Australia's water supply, both through runoff caught in dams and throughout much of Queensland through the Great Artesian Basin.
The Great Dividing Range has a strong natural history and cultural attachment to the towns and cities located on and around it. Many towns and cities are located on the range, including Canberra, Toowoomba, and the outer suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Cairns in north Queensland. The range has been important for agriculture, grazing, mixed farming, fruit growing, lumbering, and mining.
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The Western Plateau
Australia's landscape is highly diverse, ranging from snow-capped mountains to large deserts, tropical and temperate forests, grasslands, heathlands, and woodlands. The mainland can be divided into four distinct landform regions: the Coastal Plains, the Eastern Highlands, the Central Lowlands, and the Western Plateau.
The Barkly Tableland, located within the Western Plateau, is a high plain of remarkable flatness, featuring Cambrian sedimentary rocks and swamp deposits from different geological eras. The Nullarbor Plain, a karst area, is characterised by its extremely flat terrain, allowing for the construction of long, straight railways. The southwest of Western Australia is marked by extensive high plains with elongate ribbons encrusted with salt, remnants of former river courses.
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The Coastal Plains
The Gippsland Plain, a subregion of the Southeast Coastal Plain in Victoria, features depressed coastal and alluvial plains, barrier dunes, and swampy flatlands. These plains consist mostly of grassland and grassy woodlands on yellow and grey textured fertile soils. The Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia includes the city of Perth.
The climate of the northern and upper eastern Coastal Plains ranges from grassland to subtropical to equatorial, with no winter and very hot summers. The Coastal Plains are generally flat, but there are some variations in the landscape, including the Great Dividing Range, which runs along the east coast and is the longest mountain range in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a country located on the eponymous continent within the loosely defined region of Australasia/Oceania in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the sixth-largest country in the world by area of jurisdiction, which comprises 7,688,287 sq km. Given its vast size, Australia's geography is extremely diverse, ranging from snow-capped mountains to large deserts, tropical and temperate forests, grasslands, heathlands, and woodlands.
Mainland Australia can be broken into four major landform regions: the Coastal Plains, the Eastern Highlands, the Central Lowlands, and the Western Plateau.
The Eastern Highlands are made up of a series of mountains in the south topped by Mount Kosciuszko, and volcanic plugs, ash domes, and flow remnants further north.
Australia has some of the most recognisable rock formations in the world, including Uluru in Central Australia, which is a sacred site of Aboriginal peoples. The Great Barrier Reef, Blue Mountains, and Tasmanian Wilderness are also notable landmarks.
The Outback is characterised by vast and varied landscapes, including the world's largest intact desert, largest intact tropical savanna, and the largest temperate woodland. The land appears to be one huge desert from the air, with vast plains that are sometimes the colour of dried blood or tawny like a lion’s skin.
