Geography of South Australia Continent Australia Coordinates 30°S 135°E / 30°S 135°E / -30; 135 Area Ranked 4th among states and territories [ 1] • Total 984,321[ 2] 2 (380,048 sq mi) • Land 94.25% • Water 5.75% Coastline 3,815[ 3] Borders Land borders : Western Australia , Northern Territory , Queensland , New South Wales , Victoria Highest point Mount Woodroffe Lowest point Lake Eyre Longest river Murray River Largest lake Lake Eyre 2
The geography of South Australia incorporates the south central part of the continent of Australia . It is one of the six states of Australia . South Australia is bordered on the west by Western Australia , to the north by the Northern Territory , Queensland to the northeast, and both New South Wales and Victoria to the east. South Australia's south coast is flanked by the Great Australian Bight and the Southern Ocean .[ 4]
The northern and western parts of the state are extremely arid, in central Australia , dominated by Lake Eyre and Lake Torrens , mostly dry salt lakes. This arid area is sparsely populated, with many large cattle stations , and significant areas protected as national parks, or as Aboriginal lands. The only significant roads through these areas are the Stuart Highway north from Port Augusta to the Northern Territory, the Eyre Highway across the Nullarbor Plain to Western Australia, and the Barrier Highway east to Broken Hill in New South Wales. These highways have corresponding railways: the Trans-Australian Railway going west and east, and the Adelaide–Darwin railway going north.
The coastline includes cliffs against the Great Australian Bight including the western side of Eyre Peninsula . The coast is less rugged on Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent (separated by Yorke Peninsula ), Fleurieu Peninsula , Encounter Bay and The Coorong . Bordering the east of Gulf St Vincent is the Temperate Grassland of South Australia .
The highest point in the state is Mount Woodroffe at 1,435 metres (4,708 ft) in the Musgrave Ranges in the northwest corner of the state.[ 5] Mount Lofty Ranges and Flinders Ranges extending approximately 800 kilometres (497 mi) from Fleurieu Peninsula along the eastern sides of Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf respectively. About half the state is less than 150 m above sea level.[ 6]
The arid north is delineated from the more fertile southeast by Goyder's Line , first surveyed in the 1860s, and which has proven to be a remarkably accurate northern boundary marking where sustainable agriculture can be carried out. Three deserts are contained within South Australia's borders: Great Victoria Desert , Strzelecki Desert and Sturt Stony Desert .[ 7]
East of the Mount Lofty Ranges, the Murray River flows west from New South Wales and Victoria, then south adjacent to the ranges. The Murray River is the only large, permanent river in the state,[ 6] [ 8]
Climate
Köppen climate types in South Australia Satellite image of eastern South Australia. Note the dry lakes (white patches) in the north Southern areas of South Australia have a Mediterranean climate , while the rest of the state has a drier arid climate and semi-arid climate .[ 9] Oodnadatta on 2 January 1960. This is also the highest official temperature recorded in the whole of Australia.[ 10] Yongala on 20 July 1976.[ 11]
Examples
Climate data for Adelaide (Köppen Csa)
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °C (°F)
47.7
44.7
42.2
36.9
31.1
25.4
23.1
30.4
34.3
39.0
43.0
45.2
47.7
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
30.0
29.7
26.6
23.0
19.0
16.2
15.6
16.7
19.3
22.5
25.4
27.6
22.6
Daily mean °C (°F)
23.8
23.6
21.0
17.9
14.6
12.3
11.7
12.4
14.6
17.1
19.8
21.7
17.5
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
17.6
17.5
15.3
12.7
10.2
8.3
7.7
8.1
9.9
11.7
14.1
15.8
12.4
Record low °C (°F)
9.2
9.5
7.2
4.3
1.5
−0.4
0.4
0.9
2.6
4.7
5.3
7.9
−0.4
Average rainfall mm (inches)
21.2
20.0
24.9
37.6
59.3
77.7
71.1
66.9
59.6
40.0
31.0
28.3
536.5
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)
5.0
3.8
5.9
8.2
12.7
14.4
16.0
15.6
13.6
9.6
8.3
7.4
120.5
Average afternoon relative humidity (%)
36
36
40
45
55
61
59
54
50
44
40
38
47
Mean monthly sunshine hours
325.5
285.3
266.6
219.0
167.4
138.0
148.8
186.0
204.0
257.3
273.0
294.5
2,765.4
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology .[ 12] [ 13]
Climate data for Mount Gambier (Köppen Csb/Cfb)
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °C (°F)
44.1
44.9
41.3
35.8
28.5
21.6
22.4
26.6
32.2
34.4
41.2
45.9
45.9
Mean maximum °C (°F)
35.2
34.5
31.3
26.0
19.9
16.1
15.4
17.2
20.6
24.4
28.6
32.1
35.2
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
25.9
26.0
23.6
20.0
16.4
14.1
13.5
14.5
16.2
18.7
21.4
23.7
19.5
Daily mean °C (°F)
19.0
19.2
17.3
14.5
12.0
10.1
9.6
10.2
11.5
13.1
15.2
17.1
14.1
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
12.0
12.3
11.0
9.0
7.6
6.1
5.6
5.9
6.7
7.5
9.0
10.4
8.6
Mean minimum °C (°F)
6.7
7.2
6.1
4.4
3.0
1.5
1.4
1.8
2.3
2.9
4.1
5.8
1.4
Record low °C (°F)
1.4
2.8
0.0
−1.8
−2.8
−3.9
−3.9
−2.6
−3.4
−1.6
−0.8
1.2
−3.9
Average precipitation mm (inches)
31.2
25.7
34.8
49.7
72.2
91.5
99.3
100.4
75.8
54.2
46.0
40.2
721
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)
4.5
3.5
6.0
8.7
11.9
13.3
15.3
15.5
12.8
9.7
7.3
6.7
115.2
Average relative humidity (%)
54.0
56.0
60.5
64.5
76.0
80.5
79.0
73.5
69.5
62.5
59.5
55.5
65.9
Average dew point °C (°F)
9.8
10.4
9.7
8.7
8.7
7.6
6.8
6.5
7.3
7.5
8.4
8.8
8.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours
282.1
243.0
217.0
171.0
136.4
123.0
136.4
164.3
170.5
220.1
234.0
260.4
2,358.2
Mean daily sunshine hours
9.1
8.6
7.0
5.7
4.4
4.1
4.4
5.5
6.0
7.1
7.8
8.4
6.5
Source 1: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1991-2020 normals)[ 14]
Source 2: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1941-present extremes)[ 15]
Climate data for Port Lincoln (Köppen Csb)
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °C (°F)
48.3
44.4
43.3
39.5
32.7
27.3
24.1
31.2
34.0
40.8
45.8
45.6
48.3
Mean maximum °C (°F)
33.4
32.0
30.5
27.6
24.0
19.1
18.6
20.7
24.8
29.0
30.6
32.3
33.4
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
26.2
25.8
24.4
22.4
19.5
16.8
16.1
16.8
18.7
21.0
23.1
24.8
21.3
Daily mean °C (°F)
21.0
21.0
19.5
17.4
15.0
12.6
11.8
12.0
13.4
15.3
17.6
19.4
16.3
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
15.8
16.1
14.6
12.2
10.4
8.4
7.4
7.1
8.0
9.6
12.0
13.9
11.3
Mean minimum °C (°F)
12.6
13.0
11.1
8.6
7.0
5.5
4.7
4.2
4.8
5.7
8.1
10.4
4.2
Record low °C (°F)
8.5
6.8
7.1
5.1
3.0
0.7
−0.3
1.3
0.1
2.3
4.1
5.2
−0.3
Average precipitation mm (inches)
18.1
16.6
17.0
21.0
43.3
60.3
56.8
51.0
39.2
28.0
19.2
17.3
387.8
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)
2.3
2.0
2.3
3.9
7.9
9.9
10.4
9.5
7.4
4.6
3.1
3.2
66.5
Average relative humidity (%)
57.5
59.5
61.5
62.0
68.5
73.5
73.5
70.5
67.0
60.0
58.5
57.0
64.1
Average dew point °C (°F)
12.6
13.2
12.3
11.0
9.9
8.8
8.0
8.0
8.8
8.8
10.2
11.2
10.2
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1992-present normals and extremes)[ 16]
Climate data for Oodnadatta (Köppen BWh)
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °C (°F)
50.7
46.8
44.9
42.1
35.0
32.8
32.2
36.5
40.7
45.4
47.3
48.3
50.7
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
38.4
37.1
33.8
29.0
23.7
20.0
19.8
22.9
27.6
30.5
34.1
36.4
29.4
Daily mean °C (°F)
31.1
30.0
26.6
21.8
16.9
13.2
12.9
15.5
20.0
22.9
26.7
29.1
22.2
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
23.7
22.9
19.3
14.9
10.0
6.3
6.0
8.0
12.4
15.3
19.3
21.8
15.0
Record low °C (°F)
11.7
12.8
9.5
3.8
0.9
−2.6
−2.2
−0.3
2.2
5.1
9.6
11.3
−2.6
Average precipitation mm (inches)
29.2
32.8
10.4
10.0
7.1
9.8
9.4
5.5
9.9
15.4
17.8
27.2
185.2
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)
2.8
3.2
2.4
2.1
2.4
2.9
2.8
1.8
3.1
4.1
4.1
4.7
36.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours
337.9
315.0
313.1
273.0
244.9
231.0
254.2
275.9
291.0
316.2
321.0
341.0
3,514.2
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology [ 17]
Climate data for Port Augusta (Köppen BWh/BSh)
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °C (°F)
49.5
48.1
43.1
40.3
32.2
27.0
26.9
32.8
38.2
42.9
46.3
48.5
49.5
Mean maximum °C (°F)
43.3
41.2
37.4
33.1
26.1
21.3
21.7
25.1
31.5
35.6
39.6
41.8
43.3
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
34.2
32.9
30.5
26.8
21.6
18.0
18.0
20.0
24.0
27.2
30.2
32.3
26.3
Daily mean °C (°F)
26.9
25.8
23.6
19.9
15.2
11.9
11.3
12.7
16.2
19.5
22.8
24.9
19.2
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
19.5
18.7
16.7
13.0
8.7
5.8
4.6
5.3
8.4
11.8
15.3
17.4
12.1
Mean minimum °C (°F)
15.3
14.8
12.2
8.5
4.4
0.6
0.4
1.0
4.2
7.3
10.8
13.0
0.4
Record low °C (°F)
11.7
6.8
6.6
4.2
−1.9
−4
−4.1
−4.5
0.0
2.2
6.9
7.7
−4.5
Average precipitation mm (inches)
14.1
20.1
12.6
20.3
16.9
24.5
17.0
15.4
17.6
16.8
22.1
23.1
220.5
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)
1.7
1.5
2.0
2.0
3.6
4.4
3.6
3.7
2.9
2.6
3.1
2.8
33.9
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (2001-present normals extremes)[ 18]
Human Geography
The population of South Australia is over 1.7 million as of 2024,[ 19] Adelaide .[ 20] Mount Gambier , Whyalla , Victor Harbour and Murray Bridge . The indigenous population in South Australia amounts to around 43,000, as of the 2021 census, accounting for around 2.4% of the population, lower than the national percentage of 3.2%.[ 21] [ 22] [ 23]
Political Geography
In federal elections , South Australia is split into 10 electoral districts , each nominating a House of Representatives member.[ 24] electoral districts .[ 25]
References
^ Area of Australia - States and Territories Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 9 January 2022.^ "Area of Australia - States and Territories" . 27 June 2014.^ Border Lengths - States and Territories Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 9 January 2022.^ "Names and Limits" (PDF) . Australian Hydrographic Service . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2022-08-31 .^ "Highest Mountains" . Geoscience Australia . Archived from the original on 2007-09-22. Retrieved 2007-09-26 .^ a b Slater, Pat; Steve Parish (2000). Celebrating Australia . Steve Parish Publicating. p. 29. ISBN 1-74021-447-1 ^ "Deserts" . Geoscience Australia . Retrieved 22 May 2010 .^ "Where do we get our water?" . EPA South Australia . Retrieved 13 December 2024 .^ "Climate and Weather" . Government of South Australia . Atlas South Australia. 28 April 2004. Archived from the original on 15 March 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2009 .^ "50.5°C - W.A.'s Highest Ever Temperature" . Bureau of Meteorology (Australia) . Retrieved 22 May 2010 .^ "Rainfall and Temperature Records: National" (PDF) . Bureau of Meteorology . Retrieved 14 November 2009 .^ "Climate statistics for ADELAIDE (KENT TOWN) 1991–2020 averages" . Climate statistics for Australian locations . Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved December 18, 2021 .^ "Climate statistics for ADELAIDE (KENT TOWN) all years" . Climate statistics for Australian locations . Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved December 18, 2021 .^ "Mount Gambier Aero, SA Climate (1991-2020 normals)" . Australian Bureau of Meteorology . Retrieved 6 June 2022 .^ "Mount Gambier Aero, SA Climate (1941-present extremes)" . Australian Bureau of Meteorology . Retrieved 6 June 2022 .^ "Port Lincoln AWS, SA Climate (1992-present extremes)" . Australian Bureau of Meteorology . Retrieved 1 June 2022 .^ "Climate Statistics for Oodnadatta Airport" . Climate statistics for Australian locations . Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 31 March 2013 .^ "Port Augusta, SA Climate (2001-present normals extremes)" . Australian Bureau of Meteorology . Retrieved 1 June 2022 .^ "Population of South Australia 2024" . Retrieved 2024-12-15 .^ "Adelaide Population 2024" . Retrieved 2024-12-15 .^ "South Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population summary | Australian Bureau of Statistics" . www.abs.gov.au . 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2024-12-15 .^ "Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population summary | Australian Bureau of Statistics" . www.abs.gov.au . 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2024-12-15 .^ "2021 South Australia, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics" . www.abs.gov.au . Retrieved 2024-12-15 .^ "Map of federal electoral divisions of Adelaide, Barker, Boothby, Grey, Hindmarsh, Kingston, Makin, Mayo, Spence and Sturt" (PDF) .^ "Electoral districts - Electoral Commission SA" . ecsa.sa.gov.au . Retrieved 2024-12-15 .
External links
30°S 135°E / 30°S 135°E / -30; 135
