Mitchell Grass Downs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mitchell Grass Downs |
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Mitchell Grass Downs in Boulia, Queensland
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| Ecology | |
| Realm | Australasian |
| Biome | tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 471,881 km2 (182,194 sq mi) |
| Country | Australia |
| States | Northern Territory and Queensland |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable |
| Protected | 11,486 km² (2%) |
The Mitchell Grass Downs is a special natural area in northeastern Australia. It's a type of ecoregion where you find lots of grasslands. This area is mostly flat and doesn't have many trees. It's famous for its unique Mitchell grasses (Astrebla species).
Contents
Where are the Mitchell Grass Downs?
This ecoregion is located in parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory in Australia. It covers a large area of about 471,881 square kilometers.
Neighboring Natural Areas
The Mitchell Grass Downs is surrounded by other interesting natural regions. To the north and east, you'll find tropical savannas. These include the Victoria Plains tropical savanna and the Carpentaria tropical savanna. The Einasleigh Uplands savanna and the Brigalow tropical savanna are also to the northeast and east.
To the west and south, the land becomes much drier. Here, you'll find deserts like the Great Sandy-Tanami desert and the Simpson Desert. The Eastern Australia mulga shrublands are to the southeast.
Special Regions within the Downs
The Mitchell Grass Downs includes three important natural regions. These are the main Mitchell Grass Downs area itself. It also includes the Mount Isa Inlier and the Desert Uplands.
What is the Climate Like?
The climate in the Mitchell Grass Downs is tropical and semi-arid. This means it's usually warm, but it doesn't get a lot of rain. The amount of rain changes across the region. It can be anywhere from 350 to 750 millimeters each year.
Rainy Season
In most parts of the ecoregion, the rain comes during a specific season. This usually happens in summer, with the monsoon rains. As you move towards the southeast, the rainfall becomes less seasonal.
Plants of the Mitchell Grass Downs
The main plants you'll see here are different types of grasses. There are also many colorful wildflowers and small shrubs. One common shrub is the Queensland bluebush (Chenopodium auricomum).
Trees and Woodlands
Even though it's mostly grassland, you can find scattered dry woodlands. These often have gidgee trees (Acacia cambagei). Along rivers and creeks, you'll see woodlands with red river gum (Eucalyptus camuldulensis). Other trees found near water are coolibah (E. coolabah) and paperbark (Melaleuca species).
Plants in Specific Areas
In the Desert Uplands, you'll find dry woodlands with trees like Eucalyptus populnea, E. melanophloia, and E. similis. The Mount Isa Inlier has open woodlands. Here, you can see snappy gum (Eucalyptus leucophloia), Cloncurry box (E. leucophylla), and silver box (E. pruinosa).
Conservation Status
The Mitchell Grass Downs is considered a "Vulnerable" ecoregion. This means it needs protection to keep its unique plants and animals safe. About 11,486 square kilometers of the area are protected.
See also
In Spanish: Mitchell Grass Downs para niños
