Bulloo-Bancannia drainage basin facts for kids

The Bulloo-Bancannia drainage basin is a huge natural area in western Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Think of it like a giant bowl where all the rain and rivers flow inwards, but none of the water reaches the ocean! This type of area is called an endorheic basin. It's right next to the even bigger Lake Eyre basin.

What is the Bulloo-Bancannia Basin?

The Bulloo-Bancannia basin is Australia's second largest endorheic basin. This means that any water that falls here stays within the basin and doesn't flow out to the sea. Instead, it either sinks into the ground or evaporates. The basin covers a massive area of about 98,820 square kilometres. That's bigger than many countries!

Where is This Special Place?

This large basin stretches across parts of western Queensland and New South Wales. It's a mostly dry, or "arid," region. The landscape is often covered in Acacia shrubs, which are tough plants that can survive with little water. Even though it's dry, people use the land for grazing sheep and cattle.

Life in a Dry Land

The weather in the Bulloo-Bancannia basin can be very unpredictable. The average rainfall is only about 240 millimetres each year, which isn't much. But when it does rain, the landscape can transform!

Despite the dry conditions, this region is home to hundreds of different kinds of native animals. These include many types of vertebrates, which are animals with backbones like birds, mammals, and reptiles. During very dry times, these animals rely on scattered waterholes to survive. These waterholes are like natural oases in the desert. At least eight types of fish have been found here, and you can also find these same fish in the nearby Lake Eyre basin.

Water in the Basin

The Bulloo-Bancannia basin can be split into two main parts:

• The Bulloo basin in the north, which is the larger part, covering about 75,528 square kilometres. It contains the Bulloo River, which flows only after good rainfall.
• The Bancannia basin in the south, which is smaller, covering about 23,292 square kilometres. When there's enough rain, a salty lake called Lake Bancannia forms here. This lake is "ephemeral," meaning it only exists for a short time after heavy rain and then dries up.

Protecting the Environment

About 4% of this important natural area is protected. This means that parts of the basin are set aside as nature conservation areas, including several large national parks. These protected areas help to keep the unique plants and animals of the Bulloo-Bancannia basin safe for the future.

Towns in the Basin

Some of the towns located within this large drainage basin include Quilpie and Thargomindah. These towns are important centres for the people who live and work in this vast, dry landscape.