The smallest and concurrently the oldest on the planet is mainland Australia. It is located in the southern hemisphere of the planet and, it can be said, separates icy Antarctica and the equatorial archipelagos of Indonesia. The relief of Australia is also unusual and unique. Everyone who has visited this land claims that nowhere else in the world do such stunning landscapes occur. Well, let us also consider what forms of relief Australia exist and how different parts of the continent differ from each other.
Geographical position
To begin with, we will determine what the geographical position of this continent is. It is located in the eastern part of the Southern Hemisphere, stretching along the tropical and subtropical zones. It is washed by the waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as the numerous seas that adjoin it. The area of the continent is 7,659,861 square kilometers. The exact coordinates of Australia are determined by its extreme points. In the south, it's South East Cape, 43 degrees south. W .; in the north - Cape York, 10 degrees south. W .; in the east - Cape Byron, 154 degrees c. d .; in the west - Cape Stipe Point, 114 degrees c. The village of Australia is surrounded by numerous islands, among which the largest are New Guinea and Tasmania. Also here is the famous Great Barrier Reef, consisting of unique coral breed.
General data on the geology of the continent
The relief of Australia is a predominantly flat surface. It consists of plateaus that rise slightly above sea level. At the same time, they rise in the region of the coasts, and in the center of the continent there is a significant decrease in soil, that is, depression. The outline map of Australia also clearly shows us that there are mountains. However, this is just one ridge located in the east of the mainland, which has a very small height compared to other mountain systems of the world. From a geological point of view, the smallest continent in the world is usually divided into three parts: eastern, western and central.
East elevations
Mountains and hills are far from the main landforms of Australia, but they occupy the vast majority of the territory in the east. The local landscapes are made up of the Great Dividing Range, the highest point of which is Mount Kosciuszko with a height of 2228 meters. The ridge itself is divided into four longitudinal zones. The first is coastal mountain ranges that stretch along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The second is intermountain lowlands, reaching elevations below sea level. They are followed by zones with major mountain ranges. Well, in fourth place downs are foothills with a hilly surface in the west of the ridge.
Orography of the Dividing Range
Any contour map of Australia clearly shows that the main ridge of the continent is divided into two parts: the mountains of New South Wales and the mountains of Queensland. In the first part, the parameters of the belt are narrowed, but the height of the shafts is very significant. Local depressions gradually turn into coastal plains of the accumulative type. The closer to the south, the fewer hills there are. The second part of the ridge, Queensland, occupies a wider territory, but the area has not too large elevation differences. This zone is called typical midlands. Also here all four stripes are very pronounced.
Rareness of geology: the West and its historical heritage
The western relief of Australia is represented in the form of high plains, approximately 300-500 meters. This height decreases to the level of the World Ocean only in the southwestern part, where the Nullarbor plain is located. Closer to the center of the mainland are small ridges. They were formed as a result of platform upgrades in recent times. The region with the oldest breed on the planet is considered a property of the region. It has not been destroyed here since the Neogene era. It was at this time that a dry windy climate was established, which still prevails on the mainland. Paradoxically, it was the wind that caused the destruction of many rocks on Earth for millennia. And here he seems to strengthen the soil, while maintaining its originality and originality.
Lowlands of the center
As we said above, the main landforms of Australia are lowlands, and it is in the central part that they are most clearly represented. Altitude here is on average 150 meters, the closer to the geographical center, the lower. The central plains stretch from north to south from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Great Australian Gulf. Within these limits are the main low plateaus of the continent. First, the plain of Carpentaria, followed by the lowland area of the Great Artesian Basin. The Murray-Darling Plain is characterized by elevations. Within it is Australia's most extensive and deepest river - the Murray. In the central part of the continent is also Lake Air. Its depth is Australia's lowest point - fifteen meters below sea level.
Deserts of Australia - a "horse" of local landscapes
Due to the fact that the relief of Australia is predominantly flat and lowland, many desert territories have been formed here, which are strewn with sands of various rocks. Deserts occupy the central and western parts of the continent and smoothly pass into either savannahs or mountain ranges. Mostly all the sands with which Australia is strewn have a non-standard brown or coral shade. This effect is created for two reasons. Firstly, here the soil really has a red pigment, which slightly “tints” the sand and makes it unique. Secondly, the shade of the Australian deserts is affected by the position of the sun. It is on this continent that it shines at such an angle that during the hours of sunrise and sunset it makes the already red sand even darker and more saturated. Therefore, it is recommended to inspect the local sand dunes and dunes in the evening (or in the morning) to see them in all their unique beauty, under the light of the slanting rays of the setting sun.
Tropical jungle
Surprisingly, in this abyss of red sands and terrible monsoon winds there are also very humid areas filled with dense green vegetation. We are talking about the northern part of the region, which is located in the tropical zone. The maximum amount of precipitation, a very high level of humidity and insignificant temperature fluctuations are concentrated here. In northern Australia, various palm trees, eucalyptus, ferns and acacia grow, unique animals live. Among them are flying squirrels and foxes, koalas, possums, huge bats and unique lizards.
Tropical coast
The description of Australia would be incomplete if we did not talk about its most tidbit - resort areas. They include two main areas - the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef. The first is located near Brisbane, in the Gulf of the Pacific Ocean. This is one of the most famous places in the world for surfing. The Gold Coast is a unique place where the progress of modern cities and the pristine nature of local nature are combined. The barrier reef is a real treasure; it stretches along the northeast of the continent. It consists of almost a thousand islands surrounded by bright turquoise water. Diving is popular here, as the marine inhabitants living in corals are incredibly beautiful and interesting.