Landforms
Largest Waterbodies
Australia's highly variable rainfall and an absence of plentiful natural lakes has necessitated the construction of large capacity reservoirs.
Significant Rock Features
Australia has some of the most recognisable rock formations in the world including Uluru in Central Australia which was laid down in an inland sea about 500 million years ago.
Highest Mountains
Australia's ten highest mountains are all located within six kilometres of one another.
Elevations
Australia has some impressive 'high country' but it is in fact the lowest continent in the world with an average elevation of just 330 metres.
Longest Rivers
The mighty Murray River is Australia's longest but the Darling River and its upper tributaries is fractionally longer.
Islands
Australia is surrounded literally by thousands of islands, amongst them the world's largest sand island.
Significant Waterfalls
Spectacular waterfalls plunge hundreds of metres from Australia's mountain ranges and escarpments.
Deserts
Ten deserts make up nearly 20 per cent of Australia and contribute to it being the second driest continent in the world.
Australian Landforms and their History
Australia's landscape is very distinctive and unique. But it took many millions of years and some amazing climatic and geological processes to produce what we see today.
Landforms from Space
Satellite imagery can reveal distinctive patterns of land cover and land use over a wide area.
Topic contact: education@ga.gov.au Last updated: November 18, 2010
