ABSTRACT
With the exception of Antarctica, Australia is by far the world’s driest continent. It is sometimes referred to as the world’s oldest continent – not because of its geological formations but rather because of its predominantly ancient landscape. This enormous continental island of some 7.7 million km2 has very low relief. About half has an altitude of less than 300 m above sea level; only about 5% exceeds 600 m, practically all of which is concentrated in a zone along the eastern margin. Its highest point, Mt Kosciusko, in the far south-east, is only 2230 m in height.
