Australia
Introduction
AUSTRALIA is the SMALLEST CONTINENT and the SIXTH LARGEST COUNTRY in the world. It is UNIQUE — an ISLAND continent that has been ISOLATED for millions of years. This isolation has produced WILDLIFE found NOWHERE else on Earth — kangaroos, koalas, platypus, and echidnas. Australia is known as 'THE LAND DOWN UNDER' because it is in the Southern Hemisphere.
1. Location and Size
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Area | 7.7 million sq km (smallest continent) |
| Population | About 26 MILLION |
| Capital | CANBERRA |
| Largest city | SYDNEY (5+ million) |
| Highest point | Mount KOSCIUSZKO (2,228 m) |
| Lowest point | Lake EYRE (−15 m) |
| Longest river | MURRAY-DARLING (3,672 km combined) |
Location
- Australia is in the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE — completely surrounded by OCEANS
- Bounded by: INDIAN OCEAN (west and south), PACIFIC OCEAN (east), TIMOR and ARAFURA Seas (north)
- It lies between the Indian and Pacific Oceans — OFTEN called OCEANIA with New Zealand and Pacific islands
- The TROPIC OF CAPRICORN passes through CENTRAL Australia
2. Physical Features
Australia has THREE main physical divisions:
A. The Western Plateau
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Area | About HALF of Australia |
| Height | Mostly 300–600 m above sea level |
| Terrain | FLAT, DRY, with ancient rocks |
| Features | GIBSON DESERT, GREAT SANDY DESERT, GREAT VICTORIA DESERT |
| Minerals | RICH in GOLD, IRON ORE, URANIUM, NICKEL |
- The Western Plateau is VERY OLD — some rocks are OVER 3 BILLION years old
- AYERS ROCK (Uluru) — a MASSIVE red sandstone monolith — is a SACRED site for Indigenous Australians
- KALGOORLIE and COOLGARDIE — famous GOLD mining towns
B. The Central Lowlands
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Area | Between Western Plateau and Great Dividing Range |
| Height | Mostly BELOW 200 m |
| Terrain | FLAT, much of it DRY |
| Features | GREAT ARTESIAN BASIN, Lake Eyre, Murray-Darling River |
| Use | SHEEP and CATTLE grazing; WHEAT farming |
- Great Artesian Basin: The LARGEST ARTESIAN BASIN in the world (1.7 million sq km). Contains UNDERGROUND water that rises to the surface NATURALLY in bores — essential for GRAZING in the dry interior
- Lake Eyre: Australia's LARGEST lake; usually DRY — fills only once every few years
- Murray-Darling Basin: Australia's MOST important RIVER SYSTEM — used for IRRIGATION
C. The Eastern Highlands (Great Dividing Range)
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Length | 3,500 km (parallel to east coast) |
| Height | Average 900–1,500 m |
| Highest peak | Mount KOSCIUSZKO (2,228 m) |
| Features | ESCARPMENT facing the coast; GENTLE slopes inland |
- The range runs from QUEENSLAND to VICTORIA
- The EASTERN SLOPES get HEAVY rainfall (from Pacific winds)
- The WESTERN SLOPES are DRIER (rain shadow)
- The GREAT BARRIER REEF lies OFFSHORE in the Coral Sea
3. Climate
| Climate Type | Region | Characteristics |
|---|
| TROPICAL | Northern Australia (Darwin, Cairns) | HOT and HUMID; Wet and Dry seasons; CYCLONES |
| DESERT | Central Australia (Alice Springs) | VERY HOT days; COLD nights; very LITTLE rain (<250 mm/year) |
| TEMPERATE | Southern and Eastern coasts | MILD winters; WARM summers; MODERATE rain |
| MEDITERRANEAN | Southwest (Perth), South (Adelaide) | HOT, DRY summers; MILD, WET winters |
| COOL TEMPERATE | Tasmania, Southern Victoria | COOL summers; COLD winters; SNOW in mountains |
Rainfall Pattern
- HIGH rainfall (1,000+ mm): North-east coast, east coast, Tasmania
- LOW rainfall (<250 mm): Central and Western Australia (DESERTS)
- Australia is the DRIEST inhabited continent (after Antarctica)
4. Natural Vegetation
| Zone | Location | Vegetation |
|---|
| TROPICAL RAINFOREST | North-east Queensland | DENSE forests; tall trees; FERNS |
| SCLEROPHYLL FOREST | East coast, Tasmania | EUCALYPTUS (gum) trees — Australia's MOST common tree |
| SAVANNA (Tropical grassland) | Northern Australia | TALL grasses; scattered trees; BAOBABS |
| SHRUBLAND (Mallee) | Semi-arid areas | LOW eucalyptus shrubs — drought-resistant |
| DESERT | Central Australia | SPINIFEX grass, saltbush, ACACIAS |
| ALPINE | Snowy Mountains, Tasmania | GRASSLANDS; herbs; low shrubs |
5. Unique Wildlife
Because Australia has been ISOLATED for 55 million years, its animals are UNIQUE.
Marsupials (Mammals with a Pouch)
| Animal | Features |
|---|
| KANGAROO | LARGEST marsupial; HOPPING motion; up to 2 m tall |
| KOALA | LIVES in eucalyptus trees; eats ONLY eucalyptus leaves; sleeps 20 hours/day |
| WOMBAT | BURROWING animal; BACKWARD-FACING pouch |
| TASMANIAN DEVIL | NOW only in Tasmania; SCAVENGER; famous for LOUD screech |
| WALLABY | Smaller version of kangaroo |
Monotremes (Egg-laying Mammals)
| Animal | Features |
|---|
| PLATYPUS | Has a DUCK-LIKE bill; lays EGGS; feet are WEBBED |
| ECHIDNA | SPINY anteater; lays eggs; long sticky TONGUE |
Other Unique Animals
| Animal | Features |
|---|
| DINGO | WILD dog — NOT native; brought by Aboriginal people |
| EMU | LARGE FLIGHTLESS bird — 2nd largest bird in the world |
| Kookaburra | BIRD famous for its LAUGHING call |
| Lyrebird | Can IMITATE ANY sound — other birds, chainsaws, cameras |
6. People and Economy
The People
| Group | Description |
|---|
| Aboriginal Australians | ORIGINAL inhabitants; arrived 65,000+ years ago |
| Torres Strait Islanders | Indigenous people of Torres Strait Islands |
| Non-Indigenous | Mostly BRITISH and IRISH descendants; also ITALIAN, GREEK, CHINESE, INDIAN |
Aboriginal Culture: The world's OLDEST CONTINUOUS living culture (65,000+ years). They have a DEEP spiritual connection to the LAND ('Dreamtime').
Economy
Agriculture
- Australia is a MAJOR exporter of WOOL, WHEAT, BEEF, WINE
- SHEEP farming — largest exporter of WOOL and MUTTON
- WHEAT belt: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales
- SUGAR CANE in Queensland
- VINEYARDS in South Australia, New South Wales (Shiraz wine is famous)
Mining
| Mineral | Significance |
|---|
| IRON ORE | LARGEST exporter in the world (Western Australia) |
| COAL | MAJOR exporter (New South Wales, Queensland) |
| GOLD | Kalgoorlie (Western Australia) |
| BAUXITE | LARGEST producer (aluminium ore) |
| URANIUM | LARGEST reserves in the world |
| OPALS | Australia produces 95% of world's opals |
ICSE Exam Focus
2-mark questions
- Why is Australia called the 'LAND DOWN UNDER'?
- Name the THREE physical divisions of Australia.
- What is a MARSUPIAL? Give TWO examples.
4-mark questions
- Describe the THREE physical divisions of Australia.
- Why does Australia have UNIQUE wildlife?
- What are Australia's main ECONOMIC activities?
6-mark (essay) questions
- Describe the CLIMATE and VEGETATION of Australia.
- 'Australia is a continent of CONTRASTS.' Discuss with reference to its physical features, climate, and wildlife.
Self-Test
-
Why does Australia have ANIMALS found nowhere else?
Answer: Australia has been GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED from other continents for about 55 MILLION years. Its animals EVOLVED independently. This is why it has unique marsupials (kangaroo, koala) and monotremes (platypus, echidna).
-
What are the THREE MAIN PHYSICAL DIVISIONS of Australia?
Answer: The WESTERN PLATEAU (large, dry, mineral-rich), the CENTRAL LOWLANDS (flat, dry, Great Artesian Basin), and the EASTERN HIGHLANDS/Great Dividing Range (mountains along the east coast).
-
What is the GREAT ARTESIAN BASIN? Why is it important?
Answer: It is the LARGEST artesian basin in the world (1.7 million sq km) in the Central Lowlands. It provides UNDERGROUND WATER for GRAZING in the DRY interior — essential for sheep and cattle farming.
-
What are MONOTREMES? Name the TWO found in Australia.
Answer: Monotremes are EGG-LAYING MAMMALS — a rare group found only in Australia and New Guinea. The two are the PLATYPUS (duck-billed) and the ECHIDNA (spiny anteater).
-
What are Australia's MAIN MINERAL RESOURCES?
Answer: IRON ORE (largest exporter), COAL (major exporter), BAUXITE (largest producer), GOLD, URANIUM (largest reserves), and OPALS (95% of world's opals).
-
What is the GREAT BARRIER REEF? Where is it located?
Answer: It is the WORLD'S LARGEST CORAL REEF SYSTEM, stretching over 2,300 km along the north-east coast of Australia (Queensland). It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with INCREDIBLE marine biodiversity.
