Australia's Natural Environment

Australia has many unique features: a variety of landforms ranging from rugged mountains to coastal plains and beaches; many different kinds of vegetation, such as tropical rainforests and grasslands; and a climate varying from Mediterranean (dry summers and wet winters) to tropical (wet summers and dry winters).

Australia's particular combination of climate and landform is responsible for the dry and flat landscape. In Australia, large amounts of rain tend to fall on the eastern seaward side of the continent in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. This is because of the influence of southeast trade winds. These winds pick up moisture over the Pacific Ocean and when this moist, warm air meets the Great Dividing Range, it is forced to rise.

When air rises, it cools. Because cool air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air, the moisture in it condenses into water droplets, which then fall as rain. In eastern Australia, this usually occurs on the mountains. This area along Australia's east and southeast coast is where most of Australia's forests are found. Likewise, many of Australia's rivers start their life in eastern Australia in the Great Dividing Range and then carry much of Australia's total rainfall eastward, into the Pacific Ocean.

On the western side of the Great Dividing Range, most of the land is dry, flat and arid. This is because most of the moisture carried by the trade winds has been dropped on the eastern side of the ranges. As the air rises over the ranges and starts to descend on the other side, it becomes warmer and drier as it passes over the land, so very little rain falls. Any rivers running inland also carry less water because they have to travel a long way through dry country.

Thus, the features of Australia's Natural Environment are incomparable with any other environments. The varieties of landforms, vegetation, and climate are so unique they make this continent stand out in its natural environment.

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