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The Great Dividing Rangeis a system of mountain ranges and plateaus in eastern Australia. Also known as the Great Divide or Eastern Highlands, it extends for more than 3,500 km (2,175 mi) along the eastern coast of Australia from the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland to Victoria State; a branch of the system is submerged in Bass Strait before reappearing as the central highlands of the island of Tasmania. Sections of the Great Dividing Range include the Clarke and McPherson ranges (in Queensland), the Blue Mountains (near Sydney), the Australian Alps and the Snowy Mountains (near Canberra), and the Grampians (near Melbourne). The Great Dividing Range varies greatly in geological age and topography. The eastern slopes of the range are generally steeper than the western slopes. Mount Kosciusko (2,228 m/7,310 ft), in the Australian Alps, is the highest peak in Australia. The Australian Alps draw many skiers during winter months. Several major rivers, including the Darling, Murray, Murrumbidgee, and Snowy, rise in the Great Dividing Range.
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Popular spots in the Great Dividing Range: |
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The Blue Mountains, forming part of the Great Dividing Range, lie mysteriously
shrouded in a shifting blue, green and purple haze. Spanning an area of 100,770ha (249,008 acres),
the Blue Mountains National Park incorporates attractions such as the Wentworth Falls (near the town of
the
same name), Govett's Leap, and the Three Sisters. The forested sandstone valleys and escarpments
are home to grey kangaroos, platypuses, wallabies,
and many bird species.
The region juxtaposes a built-up tourist environment with some of the most striking landscapes to be seen in Australia. Only 65km (40 miles) inland from Sydney and well-connected by rail and roads, the park offers a perfect day trip from the city, though it is worthy of a longer visit. The main town in the range is Katoomba, while the quaint town of Leura is also worth a stopover for a break in one of the restaurants or cafés. The impressive Snowy Mountains are Australia's highest peaks and lie in the southeast of New South Wales within the Kosciusko National Park. Mount Kosciusco, at 2,228m (7,310ft) is the country's highest peak. Kosciusko National Park (neighbouring the Alpine National Park in Victoria) covers 627,218ha (1,549,889 acres) and is the largest national park in New South Wales. The landscape is spectacular, with glacial lakes, heaths, woodlands and some limestone caves. The park is the location of seven popular ski resorts and is situated just 487km (303 miles) southwest of Sydney. Ski resorts include the famous Smiggin Holes, Perisher Valley, and Thredbo. But, the mountains are not only popular for their opportunities for winter sports and people flock to them all year round: summer sports in the area include angling, bushwalking, water-skiing, and boating.
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The
coldest place in Australia Charlotte Pass, in the snowfields
near Mount Kosciuszko, recorded minus 23°C in 1994.