Vegetable world. Australia: natural areas In Australia, tropical deserts and semi-deserts are located

And semi-deserts are specific natural zones, the main distinguishing feature of which is drought, as well as poor flora and fauna. Such a zone can form in all climatic zones - the main factor is the critically low amount of precipitation. Deserts and semi-deserts are characterized by a climate with a sharp daily temperature difference and a small amount of precipitation: no more than 150 mm per year (in spring). The climate is hot and dry, it evaporates without having time to soak into. Temperature fluctuations are characteristic not only for the change of day and night. The temperature difference between winter and summer is also very large. The general background of weather conditions can be defined as extremely severe.

Deserts and semi-deserts are waterless, dry regions of the planet, where no more than 15 cm of precipitation falls per year. The most important factor in their formation is the wind. However, not all deserts experience hot weather; on the contrary, some of them are considered the coldest regions of the Earth. Representatives of flora and fauna have adapted to the harsh conditions of these areas in different ways.

Sometimes the air in deserts in summer reaches 50 degrees in the shade, and in winter the thermometer drops to minus 30 degrees!

Such temperature fluctuations cannot but affect the formation of the flora and fauna of the semi-deserts of Russia.

Deserts and semi-deserts are found in:

• The tropical belt is a large part of such territories - Africa, South America, the Arabian Peninsula of Eurasia.
• Subtropical and temperate zones - in South and North America, Central Asia, where a low percentage of precipitation is complemented by topographical features.

There is also a special type of desert - the Arctic and Antarctic, the formation of which is associated with a very low temperature.

There are many reasons for the formation of deserts. For example, the Atacama Desert receives little rainfall because it is located at the foot of the mountains, which, with their ridges, cover it from rain.

Ice deserts formed for other reasons. In Antarctica and the Arctic, the main snow mass falls on the coast; snow practically does not reach the interior regions. Precipitation levels generally vary greatly, for one snowfall, for example, an annual norm can fall. Such snow drifts form over hundreds of years.

natural area desert

Climate features, desert classification

This natural zone occupies about 25% of the planet's land mass. In total there are 51 deserts, of which 2 are icy. Almost all deserts were formed on the most ancient geological platforms.

General signs

The natural zone called “desert” is characterized by:

• flat surface;
• critical volume of precipitation(annual rate - from 50 to 200 mm);
• rare and specific flora;
• peculiar fauna.

Deserts are often found in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth, as well as tropical and subtropical. The relief of such an area is very heterogeneous: it combines highlands, insular mountains, small hills and layered plains. Basically, these lands are drainless, but sometimes a river can flow through part of the territory (for example, the Nile, the Syrdarya), and there are also drying lakes, the outlines of which are constantly changing.

Important! Almost all desert areas are surrounded by mountains or are located next to them.

Classification

Deserts are of different types:

• Sandy. Such deserts are characterized by dunes and sandstorms often occur. The largest, the Sahara, is characterized by loose, light soil, which is easily blown by winds.
• Clayey. They have a smooth clay surface. They are found in Kazakhstan, the western part of Betpak-Dala, on the Ustyurt plateau.
• rocky. The surface is represented by stones and rubble, which forms placers. For example, Sonora in North America.
• saline. The soil is dominated by salts, the surface often looks like a salt crust or a bog. Distributed on the coast of the Caspian Sea, in Central Asia.
• arctic- located in the Arctic and Antarctica. They are snowless or snowy.

Climatic conditions

The desert climate is warm and dry. The temperature depends on the geographical location: the maximum +58°C was recorded in the Sahara on September 13, 1922. A distinctive feature of the desert area is a sharp temperature drop of 30-40°C. During the day the average temperature is +45°C, at night - +2-5°C. In winter, in the deserts of Russia, it can be frosty with little snow.

In desert lands it is characterized by low humidity. Strong winds often occur here at a speed of 15-20 m/s or more.

Important! The driest desert is the Atacama. There has been no precipitation on its territory for more than 400 years.

Semi-desert in Patagonia. Argentina

Flora

The desert flora is very sparse, mostly sparse shrubs that can extract moisture deep in the soil. These plants are specially adapted to live in hot and dry habitats. For example, a cactus has a thick, waxy outer layer to keep water from evaporating. Sagebrush and desert grasses need very little water to survive. Plants of deserts and semi-deserts have adapted to protect themselves from animals by growing sharp needles and thorns. Their leaves are replaced by scales and spines or covered with hairs that protect the plants from excessive evaporation. Almost all sand plants have long roots. In sandy deserts, in addition to grassy vegetation, there is also shrubby vegetation: zhuzgun, sand acacia, teresken. Shrub plants are low and slightly leafy. Saxaul also grows in deserts: white - on sandy, and black - on alkaline soils.

Desert and semi-desert flora

Most desert and semi-desert plants bloom in spring, reproducing flowers until the onset of hot summer. During wet winter and spring years, semi-desert and desert plants can produce surprisingly many spring flowers. In the desert canyons, on the rocky mountains, pine trees coexist, junipers and sage grow. They provide shelter from the scorching sun for many small animals.

The least known and underestimated species of desert and semi-desert plants are lichens and cryptogamous plants. Cryptogamous or mystogamous plants - spore fungi, algae, ferns, bryophytes. Cryptogamous plants and lichens need very little water to survive and live in dry, hot climates. These plants are important because they help stop erosion, which is very important for all other plants and animals because it helps keep the soil fertile during high winds and hurricanes. They also add nitrogen to the soil. Nitrogen is an important nutrient for plants. Cryptogamous plants and lichens grow very slowly.

In clay deserts, annual ephemera and perennial ephemeroids grow. In solonchaks - halophytes or saltworts.

One of the most unusual plants that grow in such an area is saxaul. It often moves from place to place under the influence of the wind.

Fauna

The animal world is also not numerous - reptiles, spiders, reptiles or small steppe animals (hare, gerbil) can live here. Of the representatives of the order of mammals, a camel, an antelope, a kulan, a steppe ram, a desert lynx live here.

In order to survive in the desert, animals have a specific sandy coloration, they can run fast, dig holes and live without water for a long time, they are preferably nocturnal.

Of the birds, you can meet a crow, a saxaul jay, a desert chicken.

Important! In sandy deserts, there are sometimes oases - this is a place that is located above the accumulation of groundwater. There is always dense and abundant vegetation, ponds.

Leopard in the Sahara Desert

Characteristics of the climate, flora and fauna of the semi-desert

Semi-desert is a type of landscape that is an intermediate option between desert and steppe. Most of them are located in the temperate and tropical zones.

General signs

This zone is distinguished by the fact that there is absolutely no forest on it, the flora is rather peculiar, as is the composition of the soil (very mineralized).

Important! There are semi-deserts on all continents except Antarctica.

Climatic conditions

They are characterized by a hot and long summer period with a temperature of about 25°C. Evaporation here is five times higher than the level of precipitation. There are few rivers and they often dry up.

In the temperate zone, they run in an unbroken line across Eurasia in an east-west direction. In the subtropical zone, they are often found on the slopes of plateaus, highlands and plateaus (Armenian Highlands, Karru). In the tropics, these are very large areas (Sahel zone).

Fennec foxes in the desert of Arabia and North Africa

Flora

The flora of this natural zone is uneven and sparse. It is represented by xerophytic grasses, sunflowers and wormwood, ephemerals grow. On the American continent, cacti and other succulents are most common, in Australia and Africa - xerophytic shrubs and stunted trees (baobab, acacia). Here vegetation is often used to feed livestock.

In the desert-steppe zone, both steppe and desert plants are common. The vegetation cover is mainly made up of fescue, wormwood, chamomile, and hairy feather grass. Often wormwood occupies large areas, creating a dull monotonous picture. In some places, kokhiya, ebelek, teresken, and quinoa grow among the wormwood. Where groundwater comes close to the surface, thickets of brilliant chia come across on saline soils.

The soil, as a rule, is poorly developed, and water-soluble salts predominate in its composition. Among the soil-forming rocks, ancient alluvial and loess-like deposits predominate, which are processed by winds. Gray-brown soil is inherent in elevated flat areas. Deserts are also characterized by solonchaks, that is, soils that contain about 1% of easily soluble salts. In addition to semi-deserts, salt marshes are also found in steppes and deserts. Groundwater, which contains salts, when it reaches the soil surface, is deposited in its upper layer, resulting in soil salinization.

Fauna

The animal world is quite diverse. It is mostly represented by reptiles and rodents. The mouflon, antelope, caracal, jackal, fox and other predators and ungulates also live here. The semi-deserts are home to many birds, spiders, fish and insects.

Protection of natural areas

Part of the desert areas are protected by law and are recognized as nature reserves and national parks. Their list is quite large. From the deserts man guards:

• Etosha;
• Joshua Tree (in Death Valley).

From the semi-deserts are subject to protection:

• Ustyurt Reserve;
• Tiger beam.

Important! The Red Book includes such desert inhabitants as serval, mole rat, caracal, saiga.

Char desert. Zabaykalsky Krai

Economic activity

The climatic features of these zones are unfavorable for economic life, but throughout history, entire civilizations have developed in the desert zone, for example, Egypt.

Special conditions made it necessary to look for a way to graze livestock, grow crops and develop industry. Taking advantage of the available vegetation, sheep are usually grazed in such areas. Bactrian camels are also bred in Russia. Farming here is possible only with additional irrigation.

The development of technological progress and the limited reserves of natural resources have led to the fact that man has reached the deserts. Scientific research has shown that in many semi-deserts and deserts there are considerable reserves of natural resources, such as gas, precious. The need for them is constantly increasing. Therefore, being equipped with heavy equipment, industrial tools, we are going to destroy previously miraculously untouched territories.

1. The two largest deserts on planet Earth are Antarctica and the Sahara.
2. The height of the highest dunes reaches 180 meters.
3. The driest and hottest area in the world is Death Valley. But, nevertheless, more than 40 species of reptiles, animals and plants live in it.
4. Approximately 46,000 square miles of arable land turns into desert every year. This process is called desertification. According to the UN, the problem threatens the lives of more than 1 billion people.
5. Passing through the Sahara, people often see mirages. To protect travelers, a map of mirages was drawn up for caravaners.

The natural zones of deserts and semi-deserts are a huge variety of landscapes, climatic conditions, flora and fauna. Despite the harsh and cruel nature of the deserts, these regions have become home to many species of plants and animals.

The exceptional originality and antiquity of the flora and fauna of Australia is explained by its long isolation. Most plant species (75%) and animals (90%) of Australia are endemic, i.e., are not found anywhere else in the world. There are few mammals among the animals, but species extinct on other continents have survived, including marsupials (about 160 species) (see Fig. 66 on p. 140). Characteristic representatives of the Australian flora are eucalyptus (600 species), acacia (490 species) and casuarina. The mainland did not give the world valuable cultivated plants.

Australia is located in four geographical zones - from subequatorial to temperate. The change in natural zones is due to changes in temperature and precipitation patterns. The flat nature of the relief contributes to a well-defined latitudinal zonality, which is broken only in the east. The main part of the continent lies in tropical latitudes, therefore, tropical deserts and semi-deserts, occupying half the area of ​​the mainland, have received the greatest development.

Rice. 66. Endemic animals of Australia: 1 - kangaroo; 2 - frilled lizard; 3 - emu ostrich; 4 - koalas; 5 - platypus; 6 - echidna

natural areas

In the subequatorial and tropical geographical zones, significant territories are occupied by savannas and woodlands . The zone covers the plain of Carpentaria and the Central Lowland in an arc. There are wet, typical and desert savannas, developing respectively on red, red-brown and red-brown soils. In subequatorial latitudes, they replace each other from north to south, and in tropical latitudes - from east to west as moisture decreases. The Australian savannah is an open grassy area of ​​bearded vulture, alang-alang, with individual trees or groves of eucalyptus, acacia, casuarina and the moisture-storing Gregory baobab ("bottle tree"). Thickets of low-growing thorny shrubs with small leathery foliage appear in the interior regions - scrubs, consisting of drought-resistant species of acacia, eucalyptus and casuarina (Fig. 67).

An integral part of the Australian savannas are marsupials - kangaroos (red, gray, hare, wallabies), wombats. Large flightless birds are typical - emu, cassowary, Australian bustard. In eucalyptus woodlands, budgerigars breed chicks. Termite mounds are ubiquitous.

In total, there are 60 species of kangaroo in Australia. In nature, they "replace" the missing herbivorous ungulates. Kangaroo cubs are born tiny and immediately move into the mother's pouch - a skin fold on her stomach, where they spend the next 6-8 months, eating milk. The weight of an adult kangaroo can reach 90 kg with growth up to 1.6 m. Kangaroos are champions in jumping: the length of jumps reaches 10-12 m, while they can reach speeds of up to 50 km / h. The kangaroo, along with the emu, is the national emblem of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Rice. 67. Acacia scrub 68. Spinifex desert on brown soils

The central parts of the mainland in two geographical zones (tropical and subtropical) occupy deserts and semi-deserts . Australia is rightly called the continent of deserts.(Great Sandy Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Gibson Desert, etc.). Tropical deserts and semi-deserts dominate the Western Australian Plateau in a tropical continental climate. In stony and sandy semi-deserts along the riverbeds stretch sparse forests of casuarina. In the hollows of clayey semi-deserts, there are thickets of quinoa and salt-tolerant species of acacia and eucalyptus. Deserts are characterized by "pillows" of bushy grass spinifex (Fig. 68). Soils of semi-deserts are gray soils, deserts are primitive stony, clayey or sandy.

In the south of the mainland in the subtropics, deserts and semi-deserts occupy the Nullarbor plain (“treeless”) and the Murray-Darling lowland. They are formed in a subtropical continental climate on brown semi-desert and gray-brown soils. Against the background of dry rare cereals, wormwood and saltwort are found, tree and shrub vegetation is absent.

Animals of deserts and semi-deserts are adapted to life in conditions of high temperatures and a small amount of moisture. Some burrow underground, like marsupial mole, marsupial jerboa, kangaroo rat. Others, like the kangaroo and the dingo dog, are able to travel long distances in search of food and water. In the crevices of the rocks, lizards (moloch, frilled) and the most poisonous land snake taipan hide from the heat.

On the windward moistened slopes of the Great Dividing Range in four geographical zones (subequatorial, tropical, subtropical, temperate), zones variable-moist forests . The northeastern margin of the continent, under monsoon climate conditions, is occupied by subequatorial variable humid forests. Palm trees, pandanuses, ficuses, and tree ferns grow in them on red-yellow ferralite soils.

South of 20°S sh. they are replaced by rich evergreen tropical forests on red and yellow soils, which are formed in a humid tropical climate. In addition to evergreen trees intertwined with lianas and epiphytes (ficuses, palms, southern beeches, silver tree), conifers appear - Australian cedar and Australian araucaria.

In the southeast of the mainland and the north of about. Tasmania they are replaced by subtropical variable-humid forests. On mountain brown forest soils, forests of mixed composition grow from equilyptus, southern beech, podocarpus, agatis and araucaria. On the dry leeward slopes of the Great Dividing Range, they give way to equilypt woodlands. Temperate forests occupy only the extreme south of about. Tasmania.

Eucalyptus is one of the symbols of the Australian continent. Its leaves, ribbed to sunlight, form a shade-free crown. The powerful root system of the tree is able to get water from a depth of 30 m, so eucalyptus trees are planted to drain waterlogged areas around the world. The fast-growing eucalyptus is used not only in woodworking, but thanks to essential oils - and in medicine.

In the extreme southwest of the mainland, in a Mediterranean climate, the zone dry hardwood forests and shrubs . Eucalyptus forests with xanthorea ("herbaceous tree") grow on yellow soils and red soils; towards the center of the mainland, they are replaced by scrubs.

The fauna of the Australian forests is richer. This is the kingdom of marsupials: tree kangaroo, marsupial squirrel, marsupial bear (koala), marsupial marten (cuscus). In the forests, "living fossils" - the platypus and the echidna - found refuge. The world of forest birds is diverse: lyrebird, bird of paradise, cockatoo parrots, weed chickens, kookaburra. Lots of snakes and lizards (amethyst python, giant monitor lizard). Narrow-nosed crocodiles lie in wait for prey in the rivers. In the XX century. the marsupial wolf was completely exterminated.

Environmental problems

During colonization in Australia, about 40% of all forests were reduced, with tropical rainforests most severely affected. The deforestation has led to depletion of vegetation cover, soil degradation and changes in the habitat of animals. The rabbits brought by the colonists also caused damage to the local fauna. As a result, more than 800 animal species have become extinct in the last 500 years.

Global warming has an increasing impact on the nature of the continent. Due to the decrease in rainfall, droughts and forest fires have become more frequent. The rivers with a constant flow became shallow, and the drying ones stopped filling up even during the rainy season. This led to the onset of deserts on the savannas - desertification, aggravated by overgrazing, which affects 90 million hectares of land. In areas of the "wheat-sheep belt" land use is difficult due to salinization and soil erosion.

The most acute problem in Australia is the shortage of water resources. Previously, it was solved by pumping groundwater from numerous wells. But at present, a decrease in the water level in artesian basins has been recorded. The depletion of underground water reserves, along with a decrease in the full flow of rivers, has exacerbated the shortage of water in Australia, forcing the implementation of programs to conserve it.

One of the ways to preserve nature is the creation of specially protected natural areas. They occupy 11% of the area of ​​the continent. One of the most visited national parks is the park Kosciuszko in the Australian Alps. In the north is one of the largest parks in the world - Kakadu, where not only wetlands are taken under protection, serving as a habitat for many endemic birds, but also caves with Aboriginal rock art. In the Blue Mountains Park, stunning mountain landscapes with a variety of eucalyptus forests are protected. The nature of deserts has also been taken under protection (parks Great Victoria Desert, Simpson-Desert). A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uluru-Katayuta Park has recognized the giant red sandstone monolith of Ayers Rock, sacred to the natives (Fig. 69). The fabulous world of corals is guarded in the underwater park Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef has the largest variety of corals on the planet (up to 500 species). The threat, in addition to pollution of coastal waters and poaching, is the polyp-eating starfish crown of thorns. Rising ocean temperatures due to global warming are causing coral bleaching and death.

Bibliography

1. Geography grade 8. Textbook for the 8th grade of institutions of general secondary education with the Russian language of instruction / Edited by Professor P. S. Lopukh - Minsk "Narodnaya Asveta" 2014

Australia is often referred to as the desert continent. About 44% of the mainland's surface is occupied by desert and arid territories.
They are common in the Western Australian Plateau and the plains of Central Australia.

In the driest regions of the center of the mainland, large areas are stony placers or shifting sands.
On the Western Australian Plateau, rocky deserts form on thick ferruginous crusts (a legacy of wet epochs). Their bare surface has a characteristic bright orange color.
On the Nullarbor Plain, composed of fissured limestones, the desert goes to the southern coast of the mainland.

Great Victoria Desert

The largest desert on the Australian continent.
Its size is about 424,400 km2.
The desert was first crossed by European explorer Ernest Giles in 1875 and named after Queen Victoria.
The average annual rainfall varies from 200 to 250 mm of rain. Thunderstorms are frequent (15-20 per year).
Daytime temperature in summer is 32-40 °C, in winter 18-23 °C.
It is generally accepted that the desert is an endless sand dunes or lifeless rocky plains. However, the Great Victoria Desert looks different. Huge variety of shrubs and small plants. After a rare rain, wild flowers and acacias contrasting on the red sand are an unforgettable sight.
Even without rain, the caves, rocks and gorges of the desert are mesmerizing.

Great Sandy Desert

The second largest after Victoria. The desert is located in the north of Western Australia, in the Kimberley region, east of the Pilbara. A small part of it lies in the Northern Territory.
The desert has an area of ​​360,000 km²
The Great Sandy Desert is the hottest region in Australia.
In the summer period from December to February, the average temperature reaches 35 ° C, in winter - up to 20 -15 ° C.
It is here that the famous Kata Tjuta National Park - Uluru (Ayers Rock) is located, which attracts travelers from all over the world.

Tanami

The rocky and sandy desert is located northwest of the city of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory of Australia.
The average annual rainfall in this area is more than 400 mm, that is, there are quite a lot of rainy days for the desert. But the location of Tanami is such that high temperature prevails, and with it a high rate of evaporation.
The average daily temperature in the summer months (October-March) is around 38°C, at night 22°C. Temperature in winter: daytime - about 25 °C, night - below 10 °C.
The main landforms are dunes and sandy plains, as well as shallow water basins of the Lander River, in which there are water pits, drying marshes and salt lakes.
There is gold mining in the desert. Tourism has developed in recent years.

Gibson Desert

Sandy desert in the center of Western Australia. It borders the Great Sandy Desert to the north and the Great Victoria Desert to the south.
One of the first explorers of the region described it as "a huge rolling desert of gravel."
Soils are sandy, rich in iron, strongly weathered. In places there are thickets of veinless acacia, quinoa and spinifex grass, which bloom with bright flowers after rare rains.
Annual rainfall in the Gibson Desert can range from 200 to 250 millimeters. The climate is typically hot, in the south temperatures in summer can rise above 40°C, in winter the maximum is around 18°C ​​and the minimum is 6°C.

Desert Simpson

The Simpson Desert is the main part of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia.
This desert is famous for the fact that its sands are bright red and like scarlet waves continuously roll over the desert.
The landscapes of this place amaze the imagination: between high dunes there are areas of smooth clay crust and rocky plains strewn with turned stones. Simpson is the driest desert
The average temperature in summer (January) is 28-30 °С, in winter - 12-15 °С. In the northern part of the precipitation is less than 130 mm.

Small Sandy Desert

The Little Sandy Desert is a piece of land in Western Australia, located south of the Great Sandy Desert, and in the east it merges into the Gibson Desert.

There are several lakes in the territory of the Little Sandy Desert, the largest of which is Lake Disapointment, and it is located in the north. Seyviori is the main river that runs through this area. It flows into Lake Disapointet.

The area of ​​the region is 101 thousand km². The average annual precipitation, which falls mainly in the summer, is 150-200 mm.
Average summer temperatures range from 22 to 38.3° C, in winter this figure is 5.4-21.3° C

Tirari Desert

It occupies an area of ​​15 thousand square kilometers, and it is located in the eastern part of South Australia.

The desert contains salt lakes and large dunes of sand. There are quite severe conditions, high temperatures and very little precipitation, the average annual amount of which does not exceed 125 millimeters.

It is also part of the rocky ecoregion of Australia.

The Pinnacles

A small desert in the southwest of Western Australia. The name of the desert is translated as "desert of pointed rocks". The desert got its name for towering 1-5 meters of free-standing stones in the middle of a sandy plain. The nearest settlement is the city of Cervantes, from which it is a 20-minute drive to the desert. Stones are rocks or peaks.

The Pinnacles is part of the Nambung National Park.
The landscapes in this part are exceptional, you might think that you are on another planet.
If you are a visitor to the Nambung National Park, do not miss the opportunity to see the beautiful nature of the Te Pinnacles desert.

In addition to the largest deserts of Australia - Victoria and the Great Sandy Desert, on the territory of the Green Continent there are also other dry areas.

If you are interested in the deserts of Australia, then you worth knowing that the mainland has both tropical and subtropical desert areas. What are these dry zones?

The Gibson Desert is located in the center.

For the first time, Europeans visited this desert covered with rubble, unfavorable for agriculture. in 1874.

Despite the harsh climatic and natural conditions, people live in this area - Australian Aboriginal Pintubi tribe.

This indigenous tribe of the mainland is one of the topics that preserved the traditional ancient way of life of the natives Green Continent.

Also, the Gibson Desert rich in wildlife. Typical representatives of Australian animals live here - red kangaroo, marsupial badger, moloch lizard, grass wren and emu.

The marsupial badger also lives here, which previously inhabited 70% Australian territory, and today is on the verge of extinction. The main vegetation of the Gibson Desert is spinifex and acacia.

Simpson Desert

Simpson Desert, which is located in the heart of Australia- This is a protected zone of the Green Continent, on which the world-famous is located.

This body of water temporarily filled with water, fed from underwater Australian rivers and being home to many of Australia's animals.

live here ducks, eagles, gulls, Australian pelicans, kingfishers, budgerigars, pink cockatoos, swallows and other representatives of the avifauna of the mainland.

Also found here marsupial jerboas, desert bandicoots, marsupial mice and moles, dingoes, wild camels and kangaroos.

The flora of the Simpson desert is represented by drought-resistant grasses and thorns. Today in the desert there are a number of protected areas. Tourists come here to take off-road trips through the dunes.

Interesting fact! In the 19th century, they wanted to graze cattle and build settlements here, but the climate did not allow it. Also, the Simpson Desert was a disappointment for oil seekers who searched here in the 70s of the last century and did not find this natural resource.

Small Sandy Desert

The Little Sandy Desert is located in the west of the Green Continent. The flora and fauna, as well as the relief of this desert area, is similar to the characteristics of the Great Sandy Desert.

On the territory of the Lesser Sandy Desert is its the main watercourse is the Savory Creek River, which flows into Lake Disappointment located in the north of the desert.

Despite the rather harsh climate that the deserts and semi-deserts of Australia are famous for, tribes of the indigenous population of the mainland live here. The largest one is tribe Parnngurr.

The only way through the desert, namely the Canning cattle route, runs in the northeast of the Little Sandy Desert.

Deserts of Australia - Tanami and The Pinnacles

Another desert area of ​​\u200b\u200bAustralia called Tanami, which is located in, has been explored more than the rest of the dry zones of the mainland. Europeans made expeditions here before 20th century.

The Tanami Desert is a rocky-sand dunes, the area of ​​​​which 292,194 km².

The climate of Tanami semi-desert. The average annual rainfall here is much higher than in other Australian deserts.

In 2007 The North Tanami Aboriginal Protected Area has been established here and covers an area of ​​approximately 4 million hectares. Today, gold is being mined here. In recent years, various areas of tourism have been developing.

It's important to know! The North Tanami Protected Area is home to critically endangered Australian fauna and flora.

The desert called The Pinnacles is a small area that is located in the southwest of the Green Continent.

The name translates as "desert of pointed rocks" and speaks for itself. The sandy territory of the desert is “decorated” with towering stones from one to five meters.

Learn more about the drylands of Australia, it becomes clear why some species of unique Australian animals could not survive in such difficult climatic conditions.

About 3.8 million sq. km of the surface of Australia (44%) is occupied by arid territories, of which 1.7 million square meters. km - desert. This allows us to say that Australia is the most arid continent on the globe.

The deserts of Australia are confined to ancient structural elevated plains. The climatic conditions of Australia are determined by its geographical location, orographic features, the vast Pacific Ocean and the proximity of the Asian mainland. Of the three climatic zones of the southern hemisphere, the deserts of Australia are located in two: tropical and subtropical, with most of them occupied by the latter zone.

In the tropical climatic zone, which occupies the territory between the 20th and 30th parallels in the desert zone, a tropical continental desert climate is formed. The subtropical continental climate is common in the southern part of Australia, adjacent to the Great Australian Bight. These are the outskirts of the Great Victoria Desert. Therefore, in the summer period, from December to February, the average temperatures reach 30 ° C, and sometimes even higher, and in the winter (July - August) they decrease to an average of 15-18 ° C. In some years, the entire summer period temperatures can reach 40 ° C, and winter nights in the neighborhood of the tropics drops to 0 ° C and below. The amount and territorial distribution of precipitation is determined by the direction and nature of the winds.

The main source of moisture is the "dry" southeast trade winds, since most of the moisture is retained by the mountain ranges of Eastern Australia. The central and western parts of the country, corresponding to about half of the area, receive an average of about 250-300 mm of precipitation per year. The Simpson Desert receives the least amount of precipitation, from 100 to 150 mm per year. The rainy season in the northern half of the continent, where the monsoon change of winds dominates, is confined to the summer period, and, in its southern part, arid conditions prevail during this period. It should be noted that the amount of winter precipitation in the southern half decreases as one moves inland, rarely reaching 28°S. In turn, summer precipitation in the northern half, having the same tendency, does not spread south of the tropic. Thus, in the zone between the tropic and 28°S. there is a dry zone.

Australia is characterized by excessive variability in average annual precipitation and uneven precipitation throughout the year. The presence of long dry periods and high average annual temperatures prevailing over a large part of the continent cause high annual evaporation rates. In the central part of the mainland, they are 2000-2200 mm, decreasing towards its marginal parts. The surface waters of the mainland are extremely poor and extremely unevenly distributed over the territory. This is especially true for the desert western and central regions of Australia, which are practically drainless, but make up 50% of the continent's area.

The hydrographic network of Australia is represented by temporary drying watercourses (creeks). The drainage of the rivers of the deserts of Australia belongs partly to the basin of the Indian Ocean and the basin of Lake Eyre. The hydrographic network of the mainland is supplemented by lakes, of which there are about 800, and a significant part of them are located in deserts. The largest lakes - Eyre, Torrens, Carnegie and others - are salt marshes or dried-up basins covered with a powerful layer of salts. The lack of surface water is compensated by the richness of groundwater. A number of large artesian basins stand out here (Desert Artesian Basin, Northwest Basin, Northern Murray River Basin and part of Australia's largest groundwater basin, the Great Artesian Basin).

The soil cover of deserts is very peculiar. In the northern and central regions, red, red-brown and brown soils are distinguished (characteristic features of these soils are an acid reaction, coloring with iron oxides). Serozem-like soils are widespread in the southern parts of Australia. In western Australia, desert soils are found along the outskirts of drainless basins. The Great Sandy Desert and the Great Victoria Desert are characterized by red sandy desert soils. Salt marshes and solonetzes are widely developed in drainless internal depressions in the southwest of Australia and in the basin of Lake Eyre.

The Australian deserts are divided into many different types in terms of landscape, among which Australian scientists most often distinguish mountainous and foothill deserts, structural plains deserts, rocky deserts, sandy deserts, clay deserts, plains. Sandy deserts are the most common, occupying about 32% of the continent's area. Along with sandy deserts, rocky deserts are also widespread (they occupy about 13% of the area of ​​arid territories. Piedmont plains are an alternation of large rocky deserts with dry channels of small rivers. This type of desert is the source of most of the country's desert watercourses and always serves as a habitat for aborigines. Deserts Structural plains are found in the form of a plateau with a height of no more than 600 m above sea level.After sandy deserts, they are the most developed, occupying 23% of the area of ​​arid territories, confined mainly to Western Australia.