1. The three main land regions in Australia are:
· The Western Plateau
· The Central Lowlands
· The Eastern Highlands
2. The Australian Alps stretch from the Brindabella Range north of Canberra to the Baw Baw Range east of Melbourne.
3. The mountains of the Australian Alps are rounded because of water erosion.
4. Ularu is located 335km south-west of Alice Springs in the Ularu-Kata Tjuta National Park
5. Ularu (also known as Ayers Rock) is located on the southern edge of an area called the Amadeus and is the second largest monolith in the world. It is 9.4 km around the base and extends several kilometres into the ground. It was made over millions of years when the sea compressed years of sediment into one giant rock. 300 million years ago, the sea receded and the rocks were tilted and folded nearly 90 degrees. This is their present position. Soon, other rocks around Ularu which were not as strong eroded quickly leaving Ularu exposed.
Due to the way sun passes through the atomosphere, Ularu seems to change colour at different times of the day.
6. Ularu appears to change colour due to the way the Sun’s rays pass through the atmosphere.
7. A Drainage Basin is an area of land that is drained by a river and its tributaries.
8. The two largest Drainage Basins in Australia are the Murray Darling Basin and the Lake Eyre Basin.
9. The three longest rivers in Australia are the Murray, the Darling and the Murrumbidgee rivers.
10. The water in the Lake Eyre Basin flows towards Lake Eyre.
11. The thing which is unusual about the Finke River is that it only flows a few days a year.
12. The Franklin River flows for 125km from the Cheyne Range to the Gordon River. The Franklin River has become synonymous with conservation ever since the ‘Battle to Save the Franklin’ rescued it from damming for hydro-electric power in the 1980’s.
13. The court ruling which eventually saved The Franklin was made by the High Court of Australia in July 1983 that gave the Commonwealth power over the states and territories to protect nationally important environments.
15. a.) The Western Plateau: The Western Plateau is a high landscape which extends through Western Australia, most of the Northern Territory and most of South Australia. The land height reaches up to 2000m above sea level in some parts but most, up to 500m. The Western Plateau contains a few ranges which include the Barrow Range and the Musgrave Range as well containing a few lakes including Lake Camegie.
The Central Lowlands: The Central Lowlands is quite close to sea level and takes up some of South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Queensland. The land reaches up to 200m above sea level and in some parts, below sea level. The Central Lowlands contains The Simpson Desert which lies on a flat desolate landscape and also contains some Lakes and Reservoirs.
The Eastern Highlands: The Eastern Highlands is a high landscape which extends on the East Coast in parts of Victoria, NSW and Queensland. The land reaches up to 500m in most parts and in some, up to 2000m. The Eastern Highlands contains the Great Dividing Range which runs up the East coast separating the sea from the land.
b.) i. Lake Carnegie: Western Plateau
ii. Gibson Desert: Western Plateau
iii. Simpson Desert: Central Lowlands
iv. Mt Kosciuszko: Eastern Highlands
v. Musgrave Ranges: Western Plateau
c.) i. The highest place on the transect from Shark Bay to Maroochydore is the Musgrave Ranges
ii. The lowest place on the transect from Shark Bay to Maroochydore is the Simpson Desert.
d.) i. The Great Sandy Desert: Up to 500m
ii. The Great Victoria Desert: Up to 1000m
iii. The Tanami Desert: Up to 500m
16. a.) i. Tennant Creek: Not in the Lake Eyre Basin
ii. Mt Isa: Not in the Lake Eyre Basin
iii. Finke: Is in the Lake Eyre Basin
iv. Innaminka: Is in the Lake Eyre Basin
v. Birdsville: Is in the Lake Eyre Basin
b.) It is approximately 800km from Winton to Lake Eyre.
c.) The Cooper Creek connects Longreach and Innaminka.
d.) Cooper Creek passes through the Sturt Stony Desert.
e.) The Finke River flows towards The Simpson Desert (NW) when full of water.
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