The middle of the country lies under high-pressure zones that limit rainfall, while moist winds from the Pacific Ocean bring monsoon rains to the northeast.
Most countries have a dominant climate or landform. However, a few nations break this rule entirely. Imagine traveling just a few hundred kilometres and witnessing scorching sand dunes on one side and lush, green forests on the other. This dramatic contrast
highlights how unpredictable and fascinating nature can be.
It may sound unbelievable that deserts and rainforests exist within the same nation. But surprisingly, Australia is the country that hosts both. Some of the driest deserts on Earth and some of the world’s oldest rainforests are within the same national borders.
Its landscapes feel like different planets coexisting in one place.
Why does Australia have both deserts and rainforests? The country’s unusual geography and weather systems are the main reasons behind this contrast. Australia has both because of its large landmass, varied latitude, and atmospheric circulation systems. The
middle of the country lies under high-pressure zones that limit rainfall and create desert conditions, while moist winds from the Pacific Ocean bring monsoon rains to the northeast, supporting rainforest growth.
A large part of Australia’s interior is dominated by arid and semi-arid deserts. Regions like the Great Victoria Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Simpson Desert, and Tanami Desert receive extremely low rainfall. Nearly one-third of the continent is covered by desert
or dry land and experience extreme temperatures, low rainfall, and vegetation adapted to harsh, dry conditions.
Despite the harsh climate, Australia’s deserts are far from lifeless. Plants and animals here have evolved unique survival strategies, deep roots, water-storing tissues, nocturnal behaviour, and heat resistance, allowing life to thrive against the odds.
Queensland and northern New South Wales are home to dense tropical rainforests that receive heavy rainfall and support rich biodiversity. The most famous of these is the Daintree Rainforest, believed to be over 180 million years old. It is one of the oldest
surviving tropical rainforests in the world and shelters rare plants, insects, birds, and animals found nowhere else on Earth.
How do rainforests survive near deserts? Although deserts and rainforests seem completely opposite, Australia shows how both can exist close to each other. Coastal rainfall, fertile soil and warm temperatures help rainforests grow while inland dry winds and
low rainfall create desert regions. This balance of nature makes Australia environmentally special.
Besides deserts and rainforests, Australia’s landscapes include savannas, mountain ranges, wetlands, rivers, beaches, and coral reefs. The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, lies close to tropical rainforests, an ecological combination
found in very few places on Earth. This diversity makes Australia one of the most ecologically varied countries on Earth.
Other interesting facts about Australia is that nearly 70 percent of its land is classified as arid or semi-arid land. The country stands as one of the most environmentally diverse and scientifically significant countries on the planet.
