Barramundie Creek, Kakadu National Park
Photo: Ian Dixon
The Landscapes we see in northern Australia have been shaped by
many factors, the major ones being the rocks and soils beneath, the
climate above and the fires that regularly sweep across the
surface. These forces have produced a range of different types of
country from woodlands and open forest to rainforest patches and
Click on “Landscapes” and “Country
Types” on the left for more details.
The long geological history of northern Australia has produced a
largely flat country interspersed with rocky escarpments in areas
like the Kimberley and Arnhem Land. This underlying terrain affects
the soils that sustain vegetation, and the passage of fires. The
soils that are produced by weathering of the rocks have in many
cases had their nutrients largely leached away by rain and erosion.
The widespread low nutrient soils have placed limits on vegetation
that can grow in the north. Click on “Soils” and
“Geology and Geography” in the menu at left to find out
The climate also has a profound impact on landscapes. Far north
Australia has a tropical climate with a distinct wet season and dry
season and this rainfall pattern has shaped the vegetation. Further
south the rainfall decreases and is less predictable and both these
factors affect the vegetation. Click on “Climate” at
left to find out more.
North Australian landscapes have also been shaped by fire and
the evidence now indicates this region has had a long history of
regular fire extending back millions of years. To find out more
click on “Fire” in the menu at left.