Australian Deserts

18% of the Australian mainland. However, approximately 35% of the

Australian continent receives so little rain it is effectively desert. The deserts in Australia are primarily distributed throughout the western plateau and interior lowlands of the country.

By international standards, Australian deserts receive relatively high rates of rainfall. The deserts of Australia, particularly in the interior, lack any significant summer rains.

Deserts are not necessarily completely devoid of vegetation but have large areas where vegetation is very limited in height or extent.

of 348,750 square km, the Great Victoria Desert is Australia's

largest desert.

lakes and pebbled surfaces. The Great Victoria Desert receives low

average annual rainfall between 200 and 250 mm per year. Summer temperatures range between 32 to 40 °C during the day while in winter it is between 18 and 23 °C.
The desert is a part of Australia that houses the most populous and healthy population of Indigenous Australians belonging to groups like Pitjantjatjara, Mirning, and the Kogara. Large parts of the Great Victoria Desert, however, remain uninhabited as the climate and terrain are unsuitable for human settlement. Large, pristine areas of the desert are protected areas like the Mamungari Conservation Park.

Great Victoria Desert. Some examples are the great desert skink,

the crest-tailed mulgara, the southern marsupial mole, the sandhill dunnart, etc. The large monitor lizards, the sand goanna and the perentie, and the dingo are the active predators of the Great Victoria Desert.

second largest desert, with the area of 284,993 square km.

Sandy Desert, and the Tanami Desert. The desert features a

famous meteorite impact crater called the Wolfe Creek and also houses several large ergs with longitudinal sand dunes.

Two main groups of aboriginals, the Martu and the Pintupi people inhabit the desert. Several mining centers are also located in the region.

include dingos, goannas, feral camels, bilbies, bearded dragons, red kangaroo,

scarlet-chested parrot, Alexandra's parrot, thorny devils, etc.

259,972.77 square km.

Territory. The desert has a rocky terrain with small hills

and is traversed by the Tanami Track. The Tanami Deserts holds a significant place from the conservation point of view since it provides residence to some of the country’s rare and endangered species.

mouse, the long-tailed planigale, the Western chestnut mouse, the freckled

duck, gray falcon, etc. Several indigenous groups are also based in this desert.

occupies an area of 176,500 square km.

desert. These dunes are static and are held in place

by vegetation. The 40 meters tall Nappanerica dune is the largest dune in the area. The Simpson Desert also has the Great Artesian Basin which is one of the world’s largest inland drainage basins. The water from the basin rises to the surface at a large number of natural springs distributed throughout the desert.

desert to view the Dalhousie Springs, Poeppel Corner, Approdinna Attora

Knoll, etc. However, since the desert is not accessible by any maintained roads and the summer temperatures here are extremely harsh, the government has closed the desert to tourists in summer to avoid unpleasant circumstances.

desert. Fauna inhabiting the Simpson Desert include the water-holding frog,

the Eyrean grasswren, the gray grasswren, etc. Several seasonal migrant birds can be spotted in the seasonal wetlands of the Simpson Desert like the Lake Eyre, the Coongie Lakes, etc.

Examples include the musk duck, glossy ibis, great egret, banded stilt, and others. The mound springs of the Great Artesian Basin also host several species of fish, invertebrates, and plants.

of about 155,000 square km.

a pristine state. The desert is surrounded by the Little

Sandy Desert, the Great Sandy Desert, and the Great Victoria Desert. The altitude of the desert extends up to 1,600 feet in certain locations. The landscape of the Gibson Desert features gravel-covered terrains covered by desert grasses, rocky ridges, upland areas, and dune fields and undulating red sand plains. The desert also houses a few, scattered salt-water lakes.

The desert experiences a generally hot climate with summer temperatures soaring above 40°C while winter temperatures may drop down to a minimum of 6 °C. Indigenous Australians live in the area and follow a traditional way of life.

also other plants in the Gibson Desert like Mulga, Eucalyptus,

Acacia and Lechenaultia.
There are only a few animals in the Gibson Desert which include the red kangaroo, emu, the bilby, and thorny devil. In order to survive, they all have different ways to adapt to the climate in the desert.