Australia

The Australian Continent - a land of deserts, forests, mountains, reefs and unique wildlife

Overview

Australia is the world's smallest continental landmass and is commonly described as an island continent. It occupies a large part of the Southern Hemisphere between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The Australian continent is dominated by extensive lowlands, ancient geological formations, deserts, tropical regions, temperate forests, grasslands and coastal environments.

Australia is unusual among the continents because of its relatively low average elevation and its predominantly dry interior. Geoscience Australia gives an average elevation of approximately 330 metres, making Australia the lowest continent.

Key fact: Australia has an area of approximately 7.69 million km² and is the smallest continental landmass on Earth.

Geography of Australia

Australia is almost as long from north to south as it is wide from east to west. The continent extends from tropical Cape York Peninsula in the north to Tasmania in the south and from the western coast of Western Australia to the eastern coast of Queensland and New South Wales.

The Australian mainland is approximately 3,860 kilometres from north to south and almost 4,000 kilometres from east to west.

Major geographical features

Major Geographical Regions

Western Plateau

The Western Plateau occupies a large part of Australia. It contains ancient rocks, extensive deserts, plateaus and isolated mountain ranges.

Central Lowlands

The Central Lowlands occupy much of inland eastern and central Australia. The region contains major river systems, floodplains and large areas of semi-arid country.

Eastern Highlands

The Eastern Highlands include the Great Dividing Range and the Australian Alps. They form the principal elevated region of eastern Australia.

Northern Australia

Northern Australia includes tropical savannas, wetlands, monsoonal landscapes, tropical forests and the Cape York Peninsula.

Southern Australia

Southern Australia contains temperate agricultural regions, mountain environments, coastal plains and extensive semi-arid landscapes.

Tasmania

Tasmania is Australia's large southern island. It contains rugged mountains, temperate rainforests, alpine landscapes, lakes and extensive wilderness areas.

Mountains and Highlands

Australia is not a continent of very high mountains. Its highest elevations are concentrated mainly in the southeast and Tasmania.

Mountain / Range Location Significance
Mount Kosciuszko New South Wales Highest mountain on the Australian mainland, approximately 2,228 metres above sea level.
Great Dividing Range Eastern Australia Australia's principal mountain system, extending along much of the eastern side of the continent.
Australian Alps New South Wales and Victoria Australia's highest mountain region.
Blue Mountains New South Wales Mountainous sandstone landscape west of Sydney.
Tasmanian Highlands Tasmania Rugged highland region containing lakes, mountains and wilderness.
Note: Australia's highest point on the mainland is Mount Kosciuszko at about 2,228 metres. Including external territories, Mawson Peak on Heard Island is higher.

Rivers and Drainage

Australia's river systems are strongly influenced by the continent's generally dry climate. Many rivers are seasonal, while a substantial proportion of inland drainage terminates in lakes, wetlands or salt lakes.

River Region Importance
Murray River South-eastern Australia Australia's best-known major river and an important component of the Murray-Darling system.
Darling River New South Wales Major river of the Murray-Darling Basin.
Murrumbidgee River New South Wales and ACT Major tributary of the Murray River.
Fitzroy River Western Australia Major river of the Kimberley region.
Ord River Western Australia Important river of the Kimberley.
Finke River Northern Territory and South Australia One of the oldest river systems in the world.

Geoscience Australia notes that around half of Australia's rivers drain inland, often terminating in ephemeral salt lakes.

The Murray-Darling Basin

The Murray-Darling Basin is Australia's most important agricultural river basin. It covers a large part of southeastern Australia and includes the Murray, Darling and numerous tributary rivers.

The basin is important for irrigation, agriculture, wetlands, ecosystems, towns and cities.

Deserts

Much of Australia's interior is arid or semi-arid. Ten named deserts occupy nearly one-fifth of the continent.

Desert Location
Great Victoria Desert Western Australia and South Australia
Great Sandy Desert Western Australia and Northern Territory
Gibson Desert Western Australia
Tanami Desert Northern Territory and Western Australia
Simpson Desert Queensland, South Australia and Northern Territory
Strzelecki Desert South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland
Sturt Stony Desert South Australia and Queensland

The Outback

The Australian Outback is a broad term for the remote and sparsely populated inland regions of Australia.

It encompasses deserts, grasslands, rocky plateaus, salt lakes, isolated mountain ranges and extensive areas of natural vegetation.

The Outback is important for mining, pastoral agriculture, Indigenous culture, conservation, tourism and scientific research.

Great Artesian Basin

The Great Artesian Basin is one of the world's largest and most important groundwater systems. It extends beneath a large area of eastern and central Australia.

Groundwater from the basin has historically been important for communities, pastoral activities, agriculture and ecosystems in otherwise dry regions.

Climate

Australia contains a wide range of climatic zones. The continent is strongly influenced by latitude, ocean currents, atmospheric circulation, topography and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation.

Tropical climate

Northern Australia has tropical climates characterised by distinct wet and dry seasons.

Desert climate

Central Australia has extremely dry conditions and large temperature ranges between day and night.

Temperate climate

Southeastern and southwestern Australia contain extensive temperate environments.

Mediterranean climate

Parts of southern and southwestern Australia experience Mediterranean-type climates with dry summers and wetter winters.

Alpine climate

The highest areas of southeastern Australia and Tasmania have cool alpine and sub-alpine environments.

Ecosystems

Australia's long geological isolation has produced ecosystems containing many species found nowhere else on Earth.

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef lies off the northeastern coast of Queensland in the Coral Sea.

It is the world's largest coral reef ecosystem and contains thousands of individual reefs and islands. It supports highly diverse marine communities.

Marine life includes:

Australian Wildlife

Australia's geographic isolation has produced an exceptionally distinctive fauna. Marsupials and monotremes are particularly characteristic of the Australian region.

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Oceans and Seas Around Australia

Australia is surrounded by extensive marine environments in the Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans and their associated seas.

Ocean / Sea Location
Indian Ocean Western and southern Australia
Pacific Ocean Eastern Australia
Southern Ocean Southern Australia and Tasmania
Coral Sea Off northeastern Queensland
Tasman Sea Between Australia and New Zealand
Timor Sea Between northern Australia and Timor
Arafura Sea Between northern Australia and New Guinea
Great Australian Bight Southern coast of Australia

Major Islands

Australia is surrounded by thousands of islands. Tasmania is the largest island associated with the Australian mainland.

K'gari is recognised as the world's largest sand island.

Geological History

Australia has one of the oldest and most geologically stable continental interiors on Earth. Some Australian rocks are more than three billion years old.

The continent has undergone an extraordinary geological history involving continental collisions, mountain building, volcanism, erosion, changes in sea level and long-distance continental drift.

Gondwana

Australia was once part of the southern supercontinent Gondwana, together with Antarctica, South America, Africa, India and other landmasses.

Separation from Antarctica

Australia eventually separated from Antarctica and began moving northwards. Its present landscapes are the product of millions of years of geological and climatic evolution.

Australia continues to move northwards at roughly seven centimetres per year.

Indigenous Australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived in Australia for tens of thousands of years. Their cultures are among the world's oldest continuing cultural traditions.

Indigenous knowledge systems encompass sophisticated understandings of landscapes, plants, animals, seasons, water resources and ecological relationships.

Australia's Indigenous peoples have maintained diverse languages, artistic traditions, social structures, spiritual traditions and relationships with Country.

European Exploration and Settlement

European navigators explored parts of the Australian coastline from the seventeenth century onwards. British colonisation began in 1788 with the establishment of a settlement at Port Jackson.

European settlement subsequently expanded across the continent, profoundly affecting Indigenous communities, landscapes, agriculture, industry and settlement patterns.

Population and Major Cities

Australia's population is concentrated predominantly around the coastal regions, particularly in the southeast, east and southwest.

The vast interior has a much lower population density than the coastal regions.

Economy

Australia has a highly developed economy based on services, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, energy, tourism, education and international trade.

Major economic sectors

Agriculture

Agriculture is concentrated in regions where rainfall, soils and irrigation provide suitable conditions.

Major agricultural products

Mining and Natural Resources

Australia possesses substantial mineral and energy resources. Mining is particularly important to the economies of several regions.

Renewable Energy

Australia's large land area and abundant sunlight, wind, biomass and geothermal resources provide significant opportunities for renewable energy.

Science and Technology

Australia has developed significant capabilities in scientific research and engineering.

Australia's remote and dry regions also provide important locations for astronomy, Earth observation and geological research.

Environmental Challenges

Australia's ecosystems face a number of environmental pressures, including climate change, drought, bushfires, habitat loss, invasive species and changes to water resources.

Climate change

Changes in temperature and rainfall can affect agriculture, water resources, ecosystems, coral reefs and coastal communities.

Bushfires

Fire is a natural component of many Australian ecosystems, but severe fire conditions can have major effects on forests, wildlife, agriculture and communities.

Coral reef conservation

Australia's coral reef ecosystems are sensitive to changes in ocean temperature, water quality and other environmental pressures.

Water resources

Australia's relatively dry climate makes sustainable management of rivers, groundwater and wetlands particularly important.

Biodiversity

Conservation programmes seek to protect Australia's unique species and habitats, including forests, wetlands, deserts, reefs and coastal ecosystems.

Australia and the Global Environment

Australia is an important part of the global Earth system. Its deserts, forests, oceans, reefs and wetlands interact with atmospheric and oceanic processes on regional and global scales.

The continent is also an important location for research into climate change, biodiversity, geology, hydrology, marine science and ecosystem dynamics.

Australia and Space Science

Australia's large land area and relatively low population density provide favourable locations for radio astronomy and space tracking.

Australian observatories and research institutions contribute to astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, radio astronomy and Earth observation.

Quick Facts About Australia

Feature Information
Continent Australia
Approximate area 7.69 million km²
Continental status Smallest continental landmass
Common geographical description Island continent
Highest point on mainland Mount Kosciuszko, approximately 2,228 m
Lowest point Lake Eyre, approximately 15 m below sea level
Longest river Murray River / Murray-Darling river system
Largest river basin Murray-Darling Basin
Largest coral reef system Great Barrier Reef
Major mountain system Great Dividing Range
Major desert Great Victoria Desert
Major oceans Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans
Major surrounding seas Coral Sea, Tasman Sea, Timor Sea and Arafura Sea

Conclusion

Australia is a distinctive continent characterised by its ancient geology, extensive deserts, low average elevation, unique ecosystems and remarkable biodiversity.

From the tropical forests and reefs of northern Australia to the deserts of the Outback and the mountains and temperate forests of the southeast and Tasmania, the continent contains an extraordinary variety of landscapes.

Australia is also an important centre of agriculture, mining, science, engineering, astronomy, education and environmental research.

Its geological isolation and long environmental history have produced a continent unlike any other on Earth.