Great Artesian Basin

large Artesian aquifer in Australia

The Great Artesian Basin is the world's largest basin, taking about one fifth of the land area of Australia. Once a large inland sea, now all that water is underground, and the only source to why many outback towns exist in NSW, Queensland, SA and the NT.

Understand

The Great Artesian Basin in Australia is the largest and deepest aquifer (artesian basin) in the world. It stretches over 1,711,000 square kilometres, which is 22% of the surface area of Australia. This includes most of Queensland, the south-east corner of the Northern Territory, the north-east part of South Australia, and northern New South Wales. The basin is 3,000 metres deep in places. It may contain 64,900 cubic kilometres of groundwater. Its temperature ranges from 30°C to 100°C.

The basin is the only reliable source of freshwater through much of inland Australia. The Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee (GABCC) coordinates activity between the various levels of government and community organisations.

Sites

Most of the water in the Bore Baths are approximately about two million years old, and often reach a temperature of about 40 °C (104 °F).

New South Wales

Queensland and the Northern Territory

South Australia

  • 🌍 Lake Eyre. The lowest point and largest lake of Australia, and it holds a significant importance to the Aboriginals and is one of the continent's most important reserves of Australian wildlife. (updated Sep 2021)
  • 🌍 Witjira-Dalhousie Springs. National heritage site, and is the most northerly group of springs in South Australia. Also associated with many Aboriginal songs and traditions. (updated Sep 2021)

See also

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