Geographic Features of Australia

I. Australia’s Political Features

Australia…Is divided into 2 territories and 6

states:States: Tasmania, Victoria, South

Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland

Territories: Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory

TasmaniaIsland off the southeast coast

of the mainlandAlmost ½ is unspoiled land

that is protected by the government

Tasmanian Devil?

VictoriaState closest to Tasmania

Southeast part of the mainlandCapital is Melbourne; it’s the

most urban state in AustraliaThe many rivers of the region

are a good source of fresh water for farming

South AustraliaState in south-central

AustraliaThe Great Victoria Desert is

located here…

Western AustraliaLargest state; makes up 1/3rd

of the mainlandMost of Western Australia is

desert (Great Victoria Desert and Great Sandy Desert are located here)

Great Sandy Desert

New South WalesNorth of Victoria, on the

eastern coastHas more people than any

other Australian stateThe capital, Sydney, is the most

populated city in Australia -- 3 1/2 million people live there!

Australian Capital Territory is located here

Sydney, New South Wales

QueenslandSecond largest state; 7 times the

size of England! In the northeastern part of the

mainlandGreat Barrier Reef is located off the

coast in the Coral SeaMore than half of Queensland’s

population lives in the capital: Brisbane

Brisbane

Northern TerritoryNorthern coast of the

mainland, between Western Australia and Queensland

Largest population of Aborigines in Australia

Australian Capital TerritoryLocated in New South WalesThe national capital,

Canberra, is located here

Canberra (Australia’s Capital)

II. Australia’s Physical Features

Australia…The world’s smallest and flattest

continent…Has Earth’s oldest and least fertile soilsOnly Antarctica receives less rainfall!

Commonwealth of Australia also includes Tasmania, an island south of the mainland

It’s surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans

Huge desert plains stretch across the country’s middle--central Australia’s climate is hot and dry

Milder climates along the southeastern and southwestern coasts

Most Australians live in the southeastern coastal region

Great Barrier ReefWorld’s largest coral reef!Lies off the northeast coast of

Queensland--over 1,200 miles long

Contains an amazing variety of marine life, including the world’s largest collection of coral400 types of coral, 1,500 species of

fish, & 4,000 mollusks (snails, clams, octopi, & squid)

Also includes rare species like the sea cow and the large green turtle

Great Barrier Reef from space

Coral SeaAn important source of coral for the

Great Barrier ReefPart of the Pacific OceanOff the northeast coast of Australia

When the earth’s crust moved millions of years ago, it created the Coral Sea and the Great Dividing Range (largest mountain range in Australia)

Coral Sea islands are scattered over thousands of miles of ocean--no one lives on the islands except for a small group of weather specialists

Ayers RockA huge, reddish rock in the center of

AustraliaVery close to the geographic center of

the continent…It’s a monolith, which is a single,

large rock sticking out of the earthAppears reddish because its iron

content “rusts” at the surfaceNearly 12 stories high and almost 6

miles wide!

Ayers RockAborigines call it “Uluru”, which is

its official nameEuropean surveyor visited the rock

in 1873 and named it after Sir Henry Ayers, an English government official in South Australia

In 1950, Australia created Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park around Ayers RockBoth are located in the southwest

corner of the state called Northern Territory

Great Victoria DesertStretches through the states

of South Australia and Western Australia

Receives only 8 to 10 inches of rain each year, and it never snows!

Some grasslands in the desert along with sandhills and salt

Great Victoria DesertFirst Europeans to cross the

desert named it after British Queen Victoria in 1875

160,000 miles long & is a protected wilderness area

Very few Australians live here because it’s too hot and dry