Geography of South Australia

Last updated
Geography of South Australia
South Australia locator-MJC.png
ContinentAustralia
Coordinates 30°S135°E / 30°S 135°E / -30; 135
Area Ranked 4th among states and territories [1]
  Total1,044,353 km2 (403,227 sq mi)
  Land94.25%
  Water5.75%
Coastline3,815 [2]  km (2,371 mi)
Borders Land borders: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria
Highest point Ngarutjaranya
1,435 m (4,708 ft)
Lowest point Lake Eyre
-15 m (49 ft)
Longest river Murray River
683 km (424 mi)
Largest lake Lake Eyre
9690 km²

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. [3]

Contents

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. [4] The main range is the 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. [5]

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. [6]

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. [5]

Climate

Koppen climate types in South Australia South Australia Koppen.svg
Köppen climate types in South Australia
Satellite image of eastern South Australia. Note the dry lakes (white patches) in the north Eastern South Australia Satellite Photo.jpg
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. [7] The state's mean temperature range is 29 °C in January and 15 °C in July. Daily temperatures in parts of the state in January & February can be as high as 48 °C. The highest maximum temperature in that state 50.7 °C (123.3 °F), was recorded at Oodnadatta on 2 January 1960. This is also the highest official temperature recorded in the whole of Australia. [8] The lowest minimum temperature recorded in South Australia was -8.2°C (17.2°F), at Yongala on 20 July 1976. [9]

Examples

Climate data for Adelaide (Köppen Csa)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)47.7
(117.9)
44.7
(112.5)
42.2
(108.0)
36.9
(98.4)
31.1
(88.0)
25.4
(77.7)
23.1
(73.6)
30.4
(86.7)
34.3
(93.7)
39.0
(102.2)
43.0
(109.4)
45.2
(113.4)
47.7
(117.9)
Average high °C (°F)30.0
(86.0)
29.7
(85.5)
26.6
(79.9)
23.0
(73.4)
19.0
(66.2)
16.2
(61.2)
15.6
(60.1)
16.7
(62.1)
19.3
(66.7)
22.5
(72.5)
25.4
(77.7)
27.6
(81.7)
22.6
(72.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)23.8
(74.8)
23.6
(74.5)
21.0
(69.8)
17.9
(64.2)
14.6
(58.3)
12.3
(54.1)
11.7
(53.1)
12.4
(54.3)
14.6
(58.3)
17.1
(62.8)
19.8
(67.6)
21.7
(71.1)
17.5
(63.5)
Average low °C (°F)17.6
(63.7)
17.5
(63.5)
15.3
(59.5)
12.7
(54.9)
10.2
(50.4)
8.3
(46.9)
7.7
(45.9)
8.1
(46.6)
9.9
(49.8)
11.7
(53.1)
14.1
(57.4)
15.8
(60.4)
12.4
(54.3)
Record low °C (°F)9.2
(48.6)
9.5
(49.1)
7.2
(45.0)
4.3
(39.7)
1.5
(34.7)
−0.4
(31.3)
0.4
(32.7)
0.9
(33.6)
2.6
(36.7)
4.7
(40.5)
5.3
(41.5)
7.9
(46.2)
−0.4
(31.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches)21.2
(0.83)
20.0
(0.79)
24.9
(0.98)
37.6
(1.48)
59.3
(2.33)
77.7
(3.06)
71.1
(2.80)
66.9
(2.63)
59.6
(2.35)
40.0
(1.57)
31.0
(1.22)
28.3
(1.11)
536.5
(21.12)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)5.03.85.98.212.714.416.015.613.69.68.37.4120.5
Average afternoon relative humidity (%)36364045556159545044403847
Mean monthly sunshine hours 325.5285.3266.6219.0167.4138.0148.8186.0204.0257.3273.0294.52,765.4
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology. [10] [11]
Climate data for Mount Gambier (Köppen Csb/Cfb)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)44.1
(111.4)
44.9
(112.8)
41.3
(106.3)
35.8
(96.4)
28.5
(83.3)
21.6
(70.9)
22.4
(72.3)
26.6
(79.9)
32.2
(90.0)
34.4
(93.9)
41.2
(106.2)
45.9
(114.6)
45.9
(114.6)
Mean maximum °C (°F)35.2
(95.4)
34.5
(94.1)
31.3
(88.3)
26.0
(78.8)
19.9
(67.8)
16.1
(61.0)
15.4
(59.7)
17.2
(63.0)
20.6
(69.1)
24.4
(75.9)
28.6
(83.5)
32.1
(89.8)
35.2
(95.4)
Average high °C (°F)25.9
(78.6)
26.0
(78.8)
23.6
(74.5)
20.0
(68.0)
16.4
(61.5)
14.1
(57.4)
13.5
(56.3)
14.5
(58.1)
16.2
(61.2)
18.7
(65.7)
21.4
(70.5)
23.7
(74.7)
19.5
(67.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)19.0
(66.2)
19.2
(66.6)
17.3
(63.1)
14.5
(58.1)
12.0
(53.6)
10.1
(50.2)
9.6
(49.3)
10.2
(50.4)
11.5
(52.7)
13.1
(55.6)
15.2
(59.4)
17.1
(62.8)
14.1
(57.3)
Average low °C (°F)12.0
(53.6)
12.3
(54.1)
11.0
(51.8)
9.0
(48.2)
7.6
(45.7)
6.1
(43.0)
5.6
(42.1)
5.9
(42.6)
6.7
(44.1)
7.5
(45.5)
9.0
(48.2)
10.4
(50.7)
8.6
(47.5)
Mean minimum °C (°F)6.7
(44.1)
7.2
(45.0)
6.1
(43.0)
4.4
(39.9)
3.0
(37.4)
1.5
(34.7)
1.4
(34.5)
1.8
(35.2)
2.3
(36.1)
2.9
(37.2)
4.1
(39.4)
5.8
(42.4)
1.4
(34.5)
Record low °C (°F)1.4
(34.5)
2.8
(37.0)
0.0
(32.0)
−1.8
(28.8)
−2.8
(27.0)
−3.9
(25.0)
−3.9
(25.0)
−2.6
(27.3)
−3.4
(25.9)
−1.6
(29.1)
−0.8
(30.6)
1.2
(34.2)
−3.9
(25.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)31.2
(1.23)
25.7
(1.01)
34.8
(1.37)
49.7
(1.96)
72.2
(2.84)
91.5
(3.60)
99.3
(3.91)
100.4
(3.95)
75.8
(2.98)
54.2
(2.13)
46.0
(1.81)
40.2
(1.58)
721
(28.37)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)4.53.56.08.711.913.315.315.512.89.77.36.7115.2
Average relative humidity (%)54.056.060.564.576.080.579.073.569.562.559.555.565.9
Average dew point °C (°F)9.8
(49.6)
10.4
(50.7)
9.7
(49.5)
8.7
(47.7)
8.7
(47.7)
7.6
(45.7)
6.8
(44.2)
6.5
(43.7)
7.3
(45.1)
7.5
(45.5)
8.4
(47.1)
8.8
(47.8)
8.4
(47.0)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 282.1243.0217.0171.0136.4123.0136.4164.3170.5220.1234.0260.42,358.2
Mean daily sunshine hours 9.18.67.05.74.44.14.45.56.07.17.88.46.5
Source 1: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1991-2020 normals) [12]
Source 2: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1941-present extremes) [13]
Climate data for Port Lincoln (Köppen Csb)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)48.3
(118.9)
44.4
(111.9)
43.3
(109.9)
39.5
(103.1)
32.7
(90.9)
27.3
(81.1)
24.1
(75.4)
31.2
(88.2)
34.0
(93.2)
40.8
(105.4)
45.8
(114.4)
45.6
(114.1)
48.3
(118.9)
Mean maximum °C (°F)33.4
(92.1)
32.0
(89.6)
30.5
(86.9)
27.6
(81.7)
24.0
(75.2)
19.1
(66.4)
18.6
(65.5)
20.7
(69.3)
24.8
(76.6)
29.0
(84.2)
30.6
(87.1)
32.3
(90.1)
33.4
(92.1)
Average high °C (°F)26.2
(79.2)
25.8
(78.4)
24.4
(75.9)
22.4
(72.3)
19.5
(67.1)
16.8
(62.2)
16.1
(61.0)
16.8
(62.2)
18.7
(65.7)
21.0
(69.8)
23.1
(73.6)
24.8
(76.6)
21.3
(70.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)21.0
(69.8)
21.0
(69.8)
19.5
(67.1)
17.4
(63.3)
15.0
(59.0)
12.6
(54.7)
11.8
(53.2)
12.0
(53.6)
13.4
(56.1)
15.3
(59.5)
17.6
(63.7)
19.4
(66.9)
16.3
(61.4)
Average low °C (°F)15.8
(60.4)
16.1
(61.0)
14.6
(58.3)
12.2
(54.0)
10.4
(50.7)
8.4
(47.1)
7.4
(45.3)
7.1
(44.8)
8.0
(46.4)
9.6
(49.3)
12.0
(53.6)
13.9
(57.0)
11.3
(52.3)
Mean minimum °C (°F)12.6
(54.7)
13.0
(55.4)
11.1
(52.0)
8.6
(47.5)
7.0
(44.6)
5.5
(41.9)
4.7
(40.5)
4.2
(39.6)
4.8
(40.6)
5.7
(42.3)
8.1
(46.6)
10.4
(50.7)
4.2
(39.6)
Record low °C (°F)8.5
(47.3)
6.8
(44.2)
7.1
(44.8)
5.1
(41.2)
3.0
(37.4)
0.7
(33.3)
−0.3
(31.5)
1.3
(34.3)
0.1
(32.2)
2.3
(36.1)
4.1
(39.4)
5.2
(41.4)
−0.3
(31.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)18.1
(0.71)
16.6
(0.65)
17.0
(0.67)
21.0
(0.83)
43.3
(1.70)
60.3
(2.37)
56.8
(2.24)
51.0
(2.01)
39.2
(1.54)
28.0
(1.10)
19.2
(0.76)
17.3
(0.68)
387.8
(15.26)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)2.32.02.33.97.99.910.49.57.44.63.13.266.5
Average relative humidity (%)57.559.561.562.068.573.573.570.567.060.058.557.064.1
Average dew point °C (°F)12.6
(54.7)
13.2
(55.8)
12.3
(54.1)
11.0
(51.8)
9.9
(49.8)
8.8
(47.8)
8.0
(46.4)
8.0
(46.4)
8.8
(47.8)
8.8
(47.8)
10.2
(50.4)
11.2
(52.2)
10.2
(50.4)
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1992-present normals and extremes) [14]
Climate data for Oodnadatta (Köppen BWh)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)50.7
(123.3)
46.8
(116.2)
44.9
(112.8)
42.1
(107.8)
35.0
(95.0)
32.8
(91.0)
32.2
(90.0)
36.5
(97.7)
40.7
(105.3)
45.4
(113.7)
47.3
(117.1)
48.3
(118.9)
50.7
(123.3)
Average high °C (°F)38.4
(101.1)
37.1
(98.8)
33.8
(92.8)
29.0
(84.2)
23.7
(74.7)
20.0
(68.0)
19.8
(67.6)
22.9
(73.2)
27.6
(81.7)
30.5
(86.9)
34.1
(93.4)
36.4
(97.5)
29.4
(84.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)31.1
(88.0)
30.0
(86.0)
26.6
(79.9)
21.8
(71.2)
16.9
(62.4)
13.2
(55.8)
12.9
(55.2)
15.5
(59.9)
20.0
(68.0)
22.9
(73.2)
26.7
(80.1)
29.1
(84.4)
22.2
(72.0)
Average low °C (°F)23.7
(74.7)
22.9
(73.2)
19.3
(66.7)
14.9
(58.8)
10.0
(50.0)
6.3
(43.3)
6.0
(42.8)
8.0
(46.4)
12.4
(54.3)
15.3
(59.5)
19.3
(66.7)
21.8
(71.2)
15.0
(59.0)
Record low °C (°F)11.7
(53.1)
12.8
(55.0)
9.5
(49.1)
3.8
(38.8)
0.9
(33.6)
−2.6
(27.3)
−2.2
(28.0)
−0.3
(31.5)
2.2
(36.0)
5.1
(41.2)
9.6
(49.3)
11.3
(52.3)
−2.6
(27.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)29.2
(1.15)
32.8
(1.29)
10.4
(0.41)
10.0
(0.39)
7.1
(0.28)
9.8
(0.39)
9.4
(0.37)
5.5
(0.22)
9.9
(0.39)
15.4
(0.61)
17.8
(0.70)
27.2
(1.07)
185.2
(7.29)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)2.83.22.42.12.42.92.81.83.14.14.14.736.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 337.9315.0313.1273.0244.9231.0254.2275.9291.0316.2321.0341.03,514.2
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology [15]
Climate data for Port Augusta (Köppen BWh/BSh)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)49.5
(121.1)
48.1
(118.6)
43.1
(109.6)
40.3
(104.5)
32.2
(90.0)
27.0
(80.6)
26.9
(80.4)
32.8
(91.0)
38.2
(100.8)
42.9
(109.2)
46.3
(115.3)
48.5
(119.3)
49.5
(121.1)
Mean maximum °C (°F)43.3
(109.9)
41.2
(106.2)
37.4
(99.3)
33.1
(91.6)
26.1
(79.0)
21.3
(70.3)
21.7
(71.1)
25.1
(77.2)
31.5
(88.7)
35.6
(96.1)
39.6
(103.3)
41.8
(107.2)
43.3
(109.9)
Average high °C (°F)34.2
(93.6)
32.9
(91.2)
30.5
(86.9)
26.8
(80.2)
21.6
(70.9)
18.0
(64.4)
18.0
(64.4)
20.0
(68.0)
24.0
(75.2)
27.2
(81.0)
30.2
(86.4)
32.3
(90.1)
26.3
(79.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)26.9
(80.4)
25.8
(78.4)
23.6
(74.5)
19.9
(67.8)
15.2
(59.4)
11.9
(53.4)
11.3
(52.3)
12.7
(54.9)
16.2
(61.2)
19.5
(67.1)
22.8
(73.0)
24.9
(76.8)
19.2
(66.6)
Average low °C (°F)19.5
(67.1)
18.7
(65.7)
16.7
(62.1)
13.0
(55.4)
8.7
(47.7)
5.8
(42.4)
4.6
(40.3)
5.3
(41.5)
8.4
(47.1)
11.8
(53.2)
15.3
(59.5)
17.4
(63.3)
12.1
(53.8)
Mean minimum °C (°F)15.3
(59.5)
14.8
(58.6)
12.2
(54.0)
8.5
(47.3)
4.4
(39.9)
0.6
(33.1)
0.4
(32.7)
1.0
(33.8)
4.2
(39.6)
7.3
(45.1)
10.8
(51.4)
13.0
(55.4)
0.4
(32.7)
Record low °C (°F)11.7
(53.1)
6.8
(44.2)
6.6
(43.9)
4.2
(39.6)
−1.9
(28.6)
−4
(25)
−4.1
(24.6)
−4.5
(23.9)
0.0
(32.0)
2.2
(36.0)
6.9
(44.4)
7.7
(45.9)
−4.5
(23.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)14.1
(0.56)
20.1
(0.79)
12.6
(0.50)
20.3
(0.80)
16.9
(0.67)
24.5
(0.96)
17.0
(0.67)
15.4
(0.61)
17.6
(0.69)
16.8
(0.66)
22.1
(0.87)
23.1
(0.91)
220.5
(8.69)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)1.71.52.02.03.64.43.63.72.92.63.12.833.9
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (2001-present normals extremes) [16]

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South Australia is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of 984,321 square kilometres (380,048 sq mi), it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, and second smallest state by population. It has a total of 1.8 million people. Its population is the second most highly centralised in Australia, after Western Australia, with more than 77 percent of South Australians living in the capital Adelaide, or its environs. Other population centres in the state are relatively small; Mount Gambier, the second-largest centre, has a population of 33,233.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Augusta</span> City in South Australia

Port Augusta is a small coastal city in South Australia about 310 kilometres (190 mi) by road from the state capital, Adelaide. Most of the city is on the eastern shores of Spencer Gulf, immediately south of the gulf's head, comprising the city's centre and surrounding suburbs, Stirling North, and seaside homes at Commissariat Point, Blanche Harbor and Miranda. The suburb of Port Augusta West is on the western side of the gulf on the Eyre Peninsula. Together, these localities had a population of 13,515 people in the 2021 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oodnadatta</span> Town in South Australia

Oodnadatta is a small, remote outback town and locality in the Australian state of South Australia, located 1043 kilometres north-north-west of the state capital of Adelaide by road or 873 km (542 mi) direct, at an altitude of 112 metres. The unsealed Oodnadatta Track, an outback road popular with tourists, runs through the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eucla, Western Australia</span> Town in Western Australia

Eucla is the easternmost locality in Western Australia, located in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia along the Eyre Highway, approximately 11 kilometres (7 mi) west of the South Australian border. At the 2016 Australian census, Eucla had a population of 53.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimba, South Australia</span> Town in South Australia

Kimba is a rural service town on the Eyre Highway at the top of Eyre Peninsula in the Australian state of South Australia. At the 2016 census, Kimba had a population of 629 and it has an annual rainfall of 348 millimetres (13.7 in). There is an 8-metre (26 ft) tall statue of a galah beside the highway, marking halfway between the east and west coasts of Australia. The Gawler Ranges are north of the highway near the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wudinna, South Australia</span> Town in South Australia

Wudinna is a town in South Australia. The area was first settled by Europeans in 1861 when Robert George Standley lodged a claim for 10 square miles (26 km2) of land surrounding Weedna Hill. It was proclaimed a town in 1916. It is on the Eyre Highway across the centre of Eyre Peninsula. It is the seat of the Wudinna District Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streaky Bay, South Australia</span> Town in South Australia

Streaky Bay is a coastal town on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula, in South Australia just off the Flinders Highway, 303 km (188 mi) north-west of Port Lincoln and 727 km (452 mi) by road from Adelaide. At the 2016 census, Streaky Bay recorded a population of 1, 378.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of Australia</span>

Australia's climate is governed mostly by its size and by the hot, sinking air of the subtropical high pressure belt. This moves north-west and north-east with the seasons. The climate is variable, with frequent droughts lasting several seasons, thought to be caused in part by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. Australia has a wide variety of climates due to its large geographical size. The largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid. Only the south-east and south-west corners have a temperate climate and moderately fertile soil. The northern part of the country has a tropical climate, varying between grasslands and desert. Australia holds many heat-related records: the continent has the hottest extended region year-round, the areas with the hottest summer climate, and the highest sunshine duration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forrest, Western Australia</span> Former station on the Trans-Australian Railway

Forrest is a former small railway settlement and stopping place on the Nullarbor Plain, 245 kilometres west of the Western Australia / South Australia state border, established in 1916 during construction of the Trans-Australian Railway. It is on the part of the railway that is the longest – at 478.193 kilometres – stretch of straight railway line in the world. In the 2021 census, the settlement and surrounding area had "no people or a very low population".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nullarbor, South Australia</span> Town in South Australia

Nullarbor is a locality in the Australian state of South Australia located 295 kilometres (183 mi) to the west of the town of Ceduna in the western part of the state immediately adjoining the border with Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian wine</span>

The South Australian wine industry is responsible for more than half the production of all Australian wine. South Australia has a vast diversity in geography and climate which allows the state to be able to produce a range of grape varieties–from the cool climate Riesling variety in the Clare Valley wine region to the big, full bodied Shiraz wines of the Barossa Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of the Northern Territory</span> Geography of the Northern Territory region of Australia

The Northern Territory (NT) occupies the north central part of the continent of Australia. The Northern Territory borders are to the west with Western Australia, the Western Australia border being near the 129° east longitude. The NT to the south with the South Australian border being the 26th parallel south latitude. To the east the NT with the Queensland border along the 138° east longitude.

Coorabie is a town and locality in the Australian state of South Australia located about 675 kilometres (419 mi) north-west of the state capital of Adelaide. It is outside of district council boundaries, and therefore managed by the Outback Communities Authority. It is located in the west of South Australia, and includes the Wahgunyah Conservation Park. The Eyre Highway passes through the locality, although the Coorabie township is south of the highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Augusta West, South Australia</span> Suburb of Port Augusta, South Australia

Port Augusta West is a suburb of Port Augusta, South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Queensland</span> Geography of Queensland in north-east of Australia

The geography of Queensland in the north-east of Australia, is varied. It includes tropical islands, sandy beaches, flat river plains that flood after monsoon rains, tracts of rough, elevated terrain, dry deserts, rich agricultural belts and densely populated urban areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geology of South Australia</span>

South Australia is an Australian state, situated in the southern central part of the country, and featuring some low-lying mountain ranges, the most significant being the Mount Lofty Ranges, which extend into the state's capital city, Adelaide, which comprises most of the state's population. Adelaide is situated on the eastern shores of Gulf St Vincent, on the Adelaide Plains, north of the Fleurieu Peninsula, between Gulf St Vincent and the low-lying Mount Lofty Ranges. The state of South Australia, which stretches along the coast of the continent and has boundaries with every other state in Australia, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania. The Western Australia border has a history with South Australia, involving the South Australian Government Astronomer, Dodwell and the Western Australian Government Astronomer, Curlewis in the 1920s to mark the border on the ground.

Transport in South Australia is provided by a mix of road, rail, sea and air transport. The capital city of Adelaide is the centre to transport in the state. With its population of 1.4 million people, it has the majority of the state's 1.7 million inhabitants. Adelaide has the state's major airport and sea port.

In South Australia, one of the states of Australia, there are many areas which are commonly known by regional names. Regions are areas that share similar characteristics. These characteristics may be natural such as the Murray River, the coastline, desert or mountains. Alternatively, the characteristics may be cultural, such as common land use. South Australia is divided by numerous sets of regional boundaries, based on different characteristics. In many cases boundaries defined by different agencies are coterminous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canunda, South Australia</span> Suburb of District Council of Grant, Wattle Range Council., South Australia

Canunda is a locality in the Australian state of South Australia located on the state’s south-east coast overlooking the body of water known in Australia as the Southern Ocean and by international authorities as the Great Australian Bight. It is about 339 kilometres south-east of the state capital of Adelaide and 49 kilometres south of the centre of Mount Gambier.

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