The Great Victoria Desert is the largest desert in Australia. Located in both South and Western Australia, it covers an area of 163,900 square miles, about the size of California. Terrain includes dunes, plains, rocky areas, gorges and bluffs. Vegetation is abundant, considering an average yearly rainfall of just 5.9 inches to 9.8 inches a year. Mulga, marble gum trees and spinifex grass are common. Wildlife is abundant and includes more than 100 species of reptiles. Other residents include marsupial moles, short-tailed hopping mice and dingos. Four aboriginal groups live within the park boundaries. The region's climate varies, with summer days averaging 90 to105 F and winter days averaging 64 to 73 F. Frosts are common.
The Great Sandy Desert is the second largest desert in Australia. Located in Western Australia, it covers an area of 103,190 square miles, about the size of Colorado. Terrain includes dunes, table lands, salt lakes and low hills. Vegetation is dominated by spinifex grass, with acacias, bloodwood and desert oak trees making occasional appearances. Average yearly rainfall in the north reaches 11.8 inches, while 9.8 inches is normal in the south. Creatures that call the Great Sandy Desert home include feral camels, red kangaroos and the thorny devil lizard. This desert is also the home of Kata Tjuta Uluru National Park, popular with tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of Ayers Rock. High temperatures on summer days average between 100 to 108 F and on winter days average 77 to 86 F. Frosts are rare.
The Tanami Desert is the third largest desert in Australia. Located in Northern Australia, the Tanami covers an area of 71,200 square miles, about the size of the state of Washington. Terrain in the south consists largely of low rising, rocky hills. Northern terrain includes largely sandy plains covered in spiniflex grass. Other vegetation includes low acacia shrubs and red-flowering grevilleas plants. Average yearly rainfall tops 15.7 inches. Local residents include the grey falcon, freckled duck, long-tailed planigale and the western chestnut mouse. Temperature in the park during the summer averages between 97 and 100 F, while winters average 77 F. Frosts are not uncommon.
