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

2. 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?

3. 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.

5. 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

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

10. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

20. The Western Plateau It makes up 2/3rd of Australia
It consists of old rocks rich in minerals especially Gold
Average height: m 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

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. 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

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