OA - Australia and New Zealand's Physical Geography Lesson

Australia and New Zealand's Physical Geography

Although Australia and New Zealand have similarities, such as: geographic proximity and similar flora and fauna; the two countries have extremely diverse physical features. While Australia is flat with low elevation highlands and interior deserts, New Zealand has high mountains and receives adequate rainfall.

 

 

 

Australia has the unique distinction of being an island, a country, and a continent. In addition, its low relief makes it the flattest of all the continents. Though they are not high in elevation, Australia's various highland ranges are pronounced. The Great Dividing Range is a mountain chain extending from Melbourne in the south to Cape York in the north. This low elevation range of highlands averages about four thousand feet and reaches an elevation of just over seven thousand feet at its highest peaks in the south. Like the major rivers on other continents, Australia's largest river, the Darling-Murray River, starts in the highlands. From the highlands of the Great Dividing Range, the Darling-Murray River flows inward through New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia.

Aerial view of Uluru (Ayers Rock), Located in the Interior of Australia near Alice Springs

A couple of large physical features of interest and significance to Australia have the distinction of being the two largest monoliths in the world. In Western Australia, more than five hundred miles to the northeast of Perth is Mt. Augustus National Park, which features the rock known as Mt. Augustus. It rises 2,352 feet above the desert landscape and is considered the largest single rock in the world. Mt. Augustus is more than twice the size of the most famous Australian monolith of Uluru (Ayers Rock). About two hundred miles southwest of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory, Uluru rises 1,142 feet above the outback. Both rocks have ancient petroglyphs and are considered sacred sites. Although Mt. Augustus is larger, Uluru has been popularized more often through tourism promotions.

From the heights of monoliths to the depths of the sea, Australia has an abundance of tourist attractions. Off the coast of Cape York lies the famous Great Barrier Reef. Home to a host of sea creatures and fish, this large reef draws millions of tourists each year.

Climate Regions

Approximately 40 percent of Australia's interior is desert and is therefore dominated by Type B climates. The large desert landmass can heat up during the summer months, triggering elevated temperatures. Low humidity in the region allows heat to escape into the atmosphere after the sun goes down, giving the region wide temperature variation between day and night. Western Australia has three large deserts: the Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, and the Great Sandy Desert. Although not a desert, the Great Artesian Basin on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range receives little rainfall. It would be classified as a desert if it were not for its underground water resources.

Closer to the equator, along the northern coastal region of Australia, there are more tropical Type A climates. Darwin and Cape York, which are both coastal towns, have little temperature variation. Temperatures in Darwin average about 90°F in the summer and 86°F in the winter. Instead of temperature variations, the region experiences rainfall variations. From February to March, monsoons bring the region additional rainfall causing these months to be the wetter season and the rest of the year to be drier.

Tasmania, Victoria, and the core region of the southeast have a more moderate and temperate Type C climate. The main cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, are within this area. It is not surprising that there is a direct correlation between Type C climates and the major population areas. Average winter temperatures in June and July do not usually fall below 50°F and average summer temperatures in January and February remain around 70°F. Since the seasons are reversed from that of the Northern Hemisphere, many Australians go to the beach for Christmas.

Australia's Provinces and Territories and Their Respective Major Cities

The two core areas, where most of Australia's population resides, are also noted. Expectedly, the core areas have a dominant type C climate, following the general principle that humans gravitate toward type C climates.

Australian core areas are conducive to large human populations. To locate the core population areas in Australia, simply find the moderate Type C climates. Australia has two core regions. There is a small core region in the west, anchored by the city of Perth. Most of Australia's people live in the large core region in the east along the coast. This region extends from Brisbane to Adelaide.

 

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