Strzelecki Desert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Strzelecki Desert |
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Strzelecki Desert, South Australia.
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| Area | 80,250 km2 (30,980 sq mi) |
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| Country | Australia |
| States | New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia |
The Strzelecki Desert is a large, dry area in Australia. It covers parts of South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales. This desert is found in the northeast of the Lake Eyre Basin. It is also located north of the Flinders Ranges. Two other deserts, the Tirari Desert and the Simpson Desert, are also in the Lake Eyre Basin.
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What's in a Name?
This desert was named after a famous Polish explorer. His name was Paweł Edmund Strzelecki. An explorer named Charles Sturt gave the desert its name. Strzelecki was the first non-Indigenous explorer to visit this area. The well-known but difficult Burke and Wills expedition followed soon after him.
Exploring the Desert's Geography
The Strzelecki Desert is very large. It covers about 80,250 square kilometers (30,980 square miles). This makes it the seventh biggest desert in Australia. Many important landmarks cross through it. These include the Dingo Fence, the Birdsville Track, and the Strzelecki Track. Rivers like the Diamantina River, Cooper Creek, and Strzelecki Creek also flow through parts of the desert.
Desert Features and Wildlife
The desert is known for its many dune fields. These are large areas of sand hills. It also has three special wilderness areas. Much of the desert is protected land. For example, the Strzelecki Regional Reserve in South Australia helps keep it safe. Parts of the eastern desert are protected by the Sturt National Park in New South Wales. An endangered animal lives here. It is called the Dusky Hopping Mouse.
Getting Around the Desert
Crossing the Strzelecki Desert can be tricky. One difficult spot is the Cobbler Sandhills. These are near Lake Blanche. In this area, the usual sand dunes are replaced by small, worn-down hills. Most of these hills have plants growing on top. Early explorers found it very hard to drive cars through this part. The name "cobblers" comes from sheep that were hard to shear.
See also
In Spanish: Desierto de Strzelecki para niños
