LOCATION, AREA, POLITICAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES AUSTRALIA- LOCATION, AREA, POLITICAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES

DID you Know? Also known as ‘the land down under’ ‘Australia’ comes from the Latin word ‘Australis’ meaning southern. Also known as ‘the land down under’ What is the official name of Australia? Why is Australia called an ‘Island Continent’? Which important Line of Latitude passes through Australia?

DID you Know? Sixth largest country in the world Smallest continent in the world Why it is also referred to as ‘Land of Migrants’? Australia is divided into 8 administrative divisions called states. Each state has its capital.

East- South Pacific Ocean North-Arafura Sea South- Southern Ocean LOCATION West- Indian Ocean East- South Pacific Ocean North-Arafura Sea South- Southern Ocean Australia lies south-east of Asia Longitudinal Extent: 114°E to 154°E Latitudinal Extent: 10°S to 40°S

MAIN PHYSICAL FEATURES (from east to west) The Eastern Highlands The Central Lowlands The Western Plateau

Physical Features of Australia: Great Dividing Range Great Artesian Basin Cape York Peninsula Nullarbor Plains Ayers Rock Great Victoria Desert Gibson Desert Great Sandy Desert

Water Bodies in and around Australia River Murray River Darling Lake Eyre Great Barrier Reef Coral Sea Great Australian Bight Gulf of Carpentaria Timor Sea Tasman Sea Bass Strait

The Eastern Highlands It is also referred to as the ‘Great Dividing Range’ It lies close to and nearly parallel to the east coast Extends from Cape York (north) to Tasmania (south) In the north, the mountains are broad and low. In the south, the mountains are narrow and high. The mountainside facing east is steep The mountainside facing west (Central Lowlands) is gentle

The Eastern Highlands have different names in different states: Gregory Range in Queensland Blue Mountains and the New England Range in New South Wales Australian Alps in Victoria (highest peak-2228m above sea level) The Eastern Highlands is the main watershed of Australia

The Central Lowlands Lies between Eastern Highlands and Western Plateau It is a dry, flat low-lying area Extends from Gulf of Carpentaria (north) to Encounter Bay (south) It forms the world’s largest Artesian Basin

Artesian Basin: A layer of pervious rock strata between two layers of impervious rock strata that acts as a reservoir. Aquifer: An underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock. Artesian Well: A well that is bored into an aquifer. The water under pressure gushes into the well.

The Western Plateau It makes up 2/3rd of Australia It consists of old rocks rich in minerals especially Gold Average height: 300-450m above sea level The plateau slopes eastwards to Central Lowlands and southwards to Nullarbor Plain It is a desert or semi desert Three of four major deserts of Australia are found here: Gibson Great Sandy Great Victoria Desert (not Simpson Desert) Many single rocks jut out from the surface. Ayers Rock is the largest such rock- largest pebble in the world

THE RIFT VALLEY Found in southern Australia. It is a long valley with steep walls and has many plains in it Lake Torrens and the Gulf of Spencer are found here.

RIVERS OF AUSTRALIA (originating from the great dividing range) WESTERN SLOPES EASTERN SLOPES Long rivers Not all rivers are perennial Flow to the Central Lowlands Eg. Darling, Murray, Lachlan Short rivers Perennial rivers Drain into the Pacific Ocean Eg. Hastings and Hunter

Think think think Why is it the world’s driest continent? 2/3rd of Australia is a desert Very few rivers Mostly consists seasonal rivers

Murray and darling Murray- Longest permanent or perennial river in Australia Darling- Longest river in Australia but is seasonal Tributaries include Murrumbidgee and Lachlan

Lakes Most of the lakes in Australia are salt water lakes Name some lakes in Australia. Find out names of some artificial lakes in Australia

underground water Large amounts of underground water is available Mostly this water is salty and unsuitable for human consumption It is used as drinking water for cattle and sheep

GREAT BARRIER REEF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2BKd5e15Jc What is coral bleaching? How has this affected the Great Barrier Reef?