When we talk about Australia, what is the first image that comes to your mind? Okay, let's understand if we talk about koalas and kangaroos but, besides these cute little creatures, what kind of landscape does the country refer to?
If you are confused to answer this question, it is understandable, as Australia is a country with a multitude of scenarios. Paradisiacal beaches, modern cities and, also, a great desert that set countless cinematographic productions.
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And it is precisely this portion – immense, by the way – that we are going to talk about now, the Australian Outback. One of the greatest symbols of the largest country in Oceania has spaces that seem endless and that help to understand the adventurous spirit of its people.
This gigantic piece of brown earth characterizes the essence of Australia and tells the story of the nation's development. Let's see, from now on, what is the Australian Outback and its main characteristics.
Outback is the term used to designate the desert interior of Australia. It can be said that outback is everything that is not coastal or close to big cities. That is, as the literal translation of the term explains, “everything that is behind”.
Therefore, the region comprises the interior, rural and desert areas. In fact, it is impossible to know where it begins or ends, so there is no official demarcation or border to define its limits.
The outback covers almost ⅔ of the Australian territory and its central part is called red center. The approximate extension of 1,550,000 km² is composed of several sub-regions, such as the Simpson Desert, Greater Gibson Desert, Tirani-Sturt Desert, Greater Sandy-Tanami and Victoria Desert.
Most of the Australian Outback is covered by thick, reddish sand, but during the rainy season (which is brief, by the way), it is covered in undergrowth. But, it is important to mention that the land causes one of the most beautiful phenomena in the region.
The reddish color contrasts with the granite monoliths. As a result, depending on the angle at which the sun hits the ground, the structures change color throughout the day, ranging from golden yellow to purple, passing through orange, pink and various other shades.
One of the main characteristics of its soil is low fertility. So much so that not even the use of potent fertilizers makes it possible to practice agriculture in the region. Another consequence of this is the scarcity of large trees.
Rainfall rates vary according to location. The rains are more frequent throughout the year in the northern part, known as Top End. The south and central-south, on the other hand, are arid or semi-arid regions.
In these regions, temperatures are high. To give you an idea, in January 1960 the thermometers hit 50.7°C in the community of Oodnadatta, South Australia. But, make no mistake! In winter, the Outback even registers negative temperatures at night.
A strong feature of the Australian outback is the salty land surface that, in the distant past, was once sea. No plant life would be expected to grow there but, surprisingly, these “dry lakes” gave way to bushes and colorful flowers.
The relief of the region is composed of rock formations of various types, from valleys to gorges and canyons. Along its length, it is possible to find red dunes, areas of sparse vegetation, cerrados, salt lakes and forests.
Although most of the country is covered by the Australian Outback (Australia's territory is 56% desert), less than 10% of the population resides in this region. But important cities are located in the desert. As examples, we cite:
Extreme temperatures cause the inhabitants of these and less populated cities to reside in underground constructions. The internal temperature of the residences does not exceed 24ºC while, outside, the thermometers indicate twice as much.
However, the main population symbol of the outback are, without a doubt, the aborigines. And who are the aborigines? These people are the original inhabitants of Australia and have lived inland for over 40,000 years.
Therefore, they develop a spiritual relationship with the outback and tell its story through drawings made on rocks and caves, especially in the James Range. The aborigines dominate the use of plants, seeds and animals, both for food and for medicinal purposes.
Their importance to the region and the Australian history itself made the country's government grant them land titles in the interior. For this reason, most of Australia's Aboriginal towns and villages are spread across the extensive outback region.
The infertile soil makes it impossible to practice agriculture, although it is still practiced in some more peripheral areas, such as the Belt of Fire. However, the Australian outback is recognized for its intense mineral wealth.
From there, aluminum, iron, lead, gold, zinc and nickel are extracted. The natural scenery of the outback also brings great surprises for those who visit. The main attraction of the outback is Uluru, a monolith of gigantic proportions.
The color change provided by uluru is visible throughout the region but, with greater intensity in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Along its entire length, it is not surprising to find caves formed from solidified lava.
Not only does the Australian outback live on dryness! The territory is home to animal species characteristic of the region, such as reptiles, lizards and endemic birds. In addition, it is there that you will find the kangaroo, an animal that is synonymous with Australia.
In the middle of the continent, near Alice Springs, is a rock formation called Ayers Rock, or Uluru. The mount is 346 meters high and is one of the main tourist attractions in the region.
Another well-known spot close by is the Mount Conner, whose altitude is 300 meters over the plain that surrounds it. Another curiosity about the outback are the giant anthills. Some formations reach five meters in height!
The geological and vegetative formation of the outback also provides an excellent view of the starry sky. As the relief has few geographic features and the vegetation is lower, the visitor is able to have a stellar vision that goes beyond the limits of the sky.
And the kangaroos? The animal that is almost a symbol of Australia can be easily found in the outback. Most of them are concentrated in the mountains of Simpsons Gap.
Even if, at first glance, the outback region seems inhospitable and unreachable, this first impression is overthrown by the various ways to get there. One of the options is the The Ghan, train that leaves the city of Adelaide and crosses the desert until arriving in Darwin.
The total route is 3 thousand kilometers. There are also flights to Darwin and Alice Springs, from where safari-style excursions, coaches and jeeps depart.