Desert and semi arid landscapes

The most significant characteristic of a desert is its dry environment. In these arid locations, it barely rains. Did you know that 70 per cent of Australia is classified as arid or semi-arid? There are 10 named deserts in Australia. The processes of weathering, erosion and deposition shape desert landforms. This can happen due to strong winds that create rock formations, rivers that carve canyons or dunes accumulating more sand over time. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Central Australia contains two amazing landforms that have been shaped and transformed due to natural processes for more than 550 million years. Over time, changes to the management of these landforms have occurred to respect their cultural significance to Anangu, the traditional owners. Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.