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The factors that influence the climate of Australia are its location, land features, direction of mountain ranges, 

Winds and distance from the sea.

Location — The northern part lies in the tropics, so it is either warm or hot all the year round. The rest of the continent lies south of the Tropic of Capricorn and, as a result, has warm summers and mild or cool winters. Land 

Features — The east coast gets heavy rainfall from the South-east Trade Winds, which steadily decreases westward, owing to the presence of the Eastern Highlands that form a barrier for the rain-bearing winds. 

Direction of Mountain Ranges — If the Great Dividing Range did not lie in a north-south direction, Western Australia would not have been a desert. Winds — The South-East Trade Winds blow onshore and bring heavy rainfall to the east coast. The Westerlies bring rainfall in winter to south-west and south-east Australia. The north-west monsoon winds cause rainfall over northern Australia.

Natural vegetation in the desert are cactus, spinifex, and acacia (locally called wattle).

The presence of the Eastern Highlands causes heavy rains along the eastern coast and rainfall decreases westwards, away from the coast. So, most of central and western Australia has high temperatures and very little rainfall resulting in the formation of a desert.

The wildlife of Australia is unique. The continent separated from the main land mass about 200 million years ago. As a result, its animal life evolved quite differently from that of the rest of the world. 

Among the unique animals found here are marsupials are— mammals that carry their young ones in a pouch formed by a fold of skin near the stomach. The pouches contain the mammary glands.

A porous layer of rock capable of storing water and allowing its passage is called aquifer.

The Eastern Highlands are called the Great dividing range because the mountains here form the main watershed of Australia. A number of Australia’s principal rivers originate here.

Australia lies between the Indian Ocean in the west and the_ South Pacific Ocean in the east.

The tropic of Capricom or 231/2 °S latitude passes through the middle of Australia.

Australia is a natural wonderland of beautiful beaches, crystal blue waters, amazing ancient rock formations and pristine rain forests. Australia is the sixth largest country in the world and has the lowest population density per square kilometer. Australia has 16 world heritage listed properties with its historic townships, bustling cities, vivid landscapes and exotic flora and fauna all adding to its unique appeal. Most of Australia’s exotic flora and fauna cannot be found anywhere else in the world and the lifestyle is one second to none.

Because its home for bright coloured tropical fishes and crustaceans that abound in this underwater paradise.

Some Important points about the Great Barrier Reef are: 

1. The Great Barrier Reef is a 2,300 km long underwater ridge-like feature off the north-east coast of Australia at distance varying from 16 to 240 km from the coastline. 

2. It is composed of millions and millions of shells of tiny marine creatures called coral polyps. 

3. The Great Barrier Reef is Australia’s biggest tourist attraction. The warm, shallow, salty sea between the reef and the shore is the home of tropical fish of bright colours, and crustaceans that abound in this underwater paradise.

The main sheep-rearing states are New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and South Australia.

Artersian basin is a layer of porous or pervious rock lies between two layers of impervious rocks and acts as a reservoir. The rain water seeps underground and the rock becomes capable of holding water and allowing it to pass through it called aquifer. A well is bored into the aquifer through which water rises to the surface by natural pressure is called artesian well.

The Great Dividing range in the east divides the flow of rivers in the region. The rivers that flow down the eastern slopes’ are short and perennial and drain into Pacific Ocean. The rivers that flow down the western slopes are longer and flow to central lowlands and have inland drainage.