physical map of Australia and Oceania

Physical Map of Australia and Oceania 

* Smallest continent and the only island continent of the world 

* Occupied by one single country: 6th largest country 

* Lies completely in Southern and Eastern Hemisphere 

* Stretched from 10° S to 44° S latitude and from 112° E to 154° E longitude 

* Tropic of Capricorn passes through the middle of the continent 

* The Northern half of Australia is situated in the Tropical Zone and southern half is situation in the Temperature Zone.

Oceans :

• Oceans -  Indian and Pacific Ocean 

Seas:

* North - west : Timor Sea separates Australian with East Timor 

* North Arafura Sea separates Australia with Indonesia 

" North - East: coral Sea separates Australia with Papua New Guinea 

* South - East ( off coast) : Tasman Sea separates Australia with New zealand 

Gulf, Bay and Strait :

* Gulf of Carpentaria in a North 

*Great Australian bight in the South 

* Torres strait - connects Arafura Sea and Coral Sea and separates Australia from Papua New Guinea 

* Bass strait - separates Australia mainland from the Island of Tasmania

Straits of New Zealand 

* Cook strait - separates North and South Islands of New Zealand and connects Tasman Sea with  South Pacific Ocean it and runs next to the capital city, Wellington 

* Foveaux strait - separates South Island and Stewart Island.

* It is the part of Oceania 

Political Division -

* Australia consists of 6 states :

- New south Wales 

- Queensland 

- South Australia 

- Victoria 

- Western Australia 

- Tasmania 

Physical Division :

* The western Plateu 

* The Central Lowlands 

* Eastern Highlands 

Eastern Highlands 

* It also known as the Great Dividing Range or  East Australian Cordillera

* The Great Dividing Range does not consist of single mountain range. It is a complex of mountain ranges , plateau and upland area.

* It extend parallel to the east coast from Cape York peninsula, Queensland in the north to Victoria and continues beyond the Bass strait into Tasmania 

Important mountain Ranges of Eastern Highlands 

* Blue mountains

* Australian Alps- highest mountain range in Australia 

* Highest peak - Mount Kosciuko (2228 m above sea level)

- in the snowy mountain of the Australian Alps 

* Highest peak in Oceanian - Puncak Jaya in New Guinea, 

* Indonesia (4884 m) - highest peak of an Island on Earth 

Western Plateau :

* Covers about. ,(⅔) of  the continent including large parts of Western Australia, South Australia, and Northern Territory 

* It has an average elevation of 360m above sea level 

* Consists of very old rocks like the Deccan Peninsula of India and very rich in minerals.

* The western plateau is rich in mineral resource. It has deposit of iron ores, uranium and copper 

Deserts of Western Plateau 

* The western plateau is also called the home for several deserts and the climate is comparatively dry owing to the cold water current of Western Australia.

* Deserts - Tanami, Great Sandy, Gibson, Great Victoria Desert - largest in Australia 

Mountains Plateau and Plains of Western Plateau 

* Plateau - Kimberly Plateau 

* Mountain Ranges - Hamersley Range, Macdonell Range, Darling Range 

* Plain - Nullarbor Plain

Central Lowlands 

* Extend from Gulf of Carpentaria in the North to the southern coast of the continent.

* It separate the Eastern Highlands and Western Plateau.

* This region consists of a series of basins, low-lying land, lakes and old lake beds.

* Most of the land lies below 153 m elevation.

* The Central Lowlands are dry because rainfall is blocked by Eastern Highlands.

Continent following Physical Features 

.

* Simpson Dester ( famous for it's large red sand duens and salt pans)

* Great Australia Basin

* Murray - Darling river Basin 

* Lake Eyre

The Great Artesian Basin ( GAB) 

* Mainly located in the states of Queensland and New whales 

* It is the world's largest Artesian Basin known for ground water reserves.

* An Artesian aquifer has trapped water, surrounded by layerss of impermeable rock or clay, Sandwhichef in a Saucer like formation.

* It contains ground water positive pressure. A well drilled into this Aquifer is known as an Artesian well from which water flows under natural pressure, without pumping.

* The Great Artesian Basin is an important source of water supply for cattle stations, irrigated, and livestook

* And Domestic purpose, and is a vital lifeline for rural Australia.

Murray - Darling River system 

The Darling River:

* Begins in Southern Queensland where the Culgoa and Barwon rivers meet.

* It flows into the Murray at the border of New South Wales and Victoria 

Murray River 

" Longest river in Australia 

* Originates from the Australian Alps 

Lake Eyre

" Has the lowest point of Australia about 15m below Sea level 

* It is officially known as Kati Thanda

* The lake was named in honour of Edward John Eyre, the first European to see it in 1840.

* Known for salt pan/ salt flats

Other important Rivers:

* Murrumbidgee River 

* Lachlan River 

* Cooper Creek

*Paroo River

* Warrego River 

Major Lakes in Australia :

* Lake Eyre- largest in Australia 

* Lake Torrens

* Lake Gairdner 

* Lake Carnegie - Australia's largest non- salt lake 

* Lake Mackay

Major Waterfalls

* Wallaman Falls - Queensland 

* Wollimombi Waterfalls - New South Wales 

* Dandongadale Falls- Victoria 

*Ellenborough Falls - New South Wales 

* Jim Jim Falls - Northern Territory 

The Great Barrier Reef 

* World's largest Coral Reef System - composed of and built by billions of tiny Organisms known as Coral Polyps. It is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms.

* Located in the coral sea, off the coast of Queensland - stretches from Torres  Strait in the north to Fraser Island in the south.

* It is the home to large number of species.

* It is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 island streching for over 2,300 km

* Scientist believe that is has existed for more than 18 million years.

* The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space