Geography of Australia
| Continent | Oceania (continent) |
|---|---|
| Region | Oceania |
| Coordinates | 27°00′00″S 144°00′00″E / 27.000°S 144.000°E |
| Area | Ranked 6th |
| • Total | 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi) |
| • Land | 98.21% |
| • Water | 1.79% |
| Coastline | 59,681 km (37,084 mi) |
| Borders | None |
| Highest point | Mount Kosciuszko 2,228 m (7,310 ft) (mainland) Mawson Peak 2,745 m (9,006 ft) (Australian territory) |
| Lowest point | Lake Eyre, −15 m (−49 ft) |
| Longest river | Murray River, 2,375 km (1,476 mi) |
| Largest lake | Lake Eyre 9,500 km2 (3,668 sq mi) |
| Climate | Mostly desert or semi-arid, south-east and south-west corners: temperate, north: tropical climate, varied between tropical rainforests, grasslands, part desert, mountainous areas: subantarctic tundra |
| Terrain | Mostly low plateau with deserts, rangelands and a fertile plain in the southeast; mountain ranges in the east and south-east. |
| Natural resources | Minerals, coal, and timber |
| Natural hazards | Cyclones along the northern coasts, severe thunderstorms, droughts, occasional floods, heat waves, and frequent bushfires |
| Exclusive economic zone | 8,148,250 km2 (3,146,060 sq mi) |
The geography of Australia describes the systematic study of Australian sovereign territory, which, in a geographical sense, refers to the mainland Australia (also called continental Australia), the insular state of Tasmania and thousands of minor islands spread over the Pacific, Indian and Southern oceans and surrounding the mainland landmass which, together, comprise a territorial area of 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi). Given its vast size, Australia's geography is extremely diverse, ranging from the snow-capped mountains of the Australian Alps and Tasmania to large deserts, tropical and temperate forests, grasslands, heathlands and woodlands.