The Road Less Traveled Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sixth largest

Australia has an area of just over seven and a half million square kilometres. The Indian Ocean is on the western side of the country, and the Pacific Ocean is on the east. The Great Southern Ocean rolls in at the south, while the top of the country is separated from the Asian continent by the Timor and Arafura Seas. Because Australia is surrounded by ocean on all sides, it is considered by some to not only be a continent, but also the largest island in the world.
The five largest countries are: Russia, Canada, USA, China and Brazil.

Answer: Mount Augustus

Mawson Peak is actually taller than Mount Augustus, but it is located on an external area of Australia. Mount Augustus is found in the state of Western Australia, away from most areas of civilisation. Ayers Rock/Uluru is commonly believed to be the tallest monolith in Australia but the honour of monocline goes to Augustus.

It is surprising that we don't make more of it in this country because not only is it the tallest in Australia, it is also believed to be the tallest in the world. Mount Kosciuszko is the tallest mountain (as opposed to monocline) in Australia.

Answer: True

We've also got the least fertile soil, and the oldest and driest, in the world, which is hardly a cheerful prospect. The entire country, in fact, is mostly desert or semi-desert. Only the east coast, the top end, and the bottom left corner of the west coast have greener and healthier climates. Our population density is also the lowest in the world.

Answer: The Outback

The further outback the better in fact. Hardly anything grows or thrives there, unless we have intense rains. Then the desert areas come alive with incredibly beautiful wildflowers springing up everywhere and equally beautiful birds flocking in from the coastal areas. Ah, this country can break your heart if you let it.

Answer: East Australian Cordillera

Perhaps it's a little grandiose to call it a great dividing range. Mountains certainly comprise the major part of it, but in parts these are more hills. Still, bearing in mind we're so flat, we kindly include these in the description as well. This range successfully separated the east coast of Australia from the rest of the continent for 25 years after the country was first settled.

It wasn't until 1813 that it was breached by explorers Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson in the south - and by Alan Cunningham in the north in 1827. Cordillera comes originally from a Spanish word meaning rope or string. Geographically speaking today, it means a chain of mountains.

Answer: North

This large area of the country is dry and thinly populated. It is known for several things. These include its aboriginal tribes, its stunning landscape, and, sadly, its vast mineral deposits. Sadly, because with mineral deposits comes developers. Vividly coloured red soils, amazing gorges, ancient rocks (the oldest in the world) are also part of this large area of Australia which stretches over 500,000 square miles.

Answer: Gulf Country

This is because the huge Gulf of Carpentaria dominates this part of the country. The gulf is 675 kilometres wide at its widest and 700 kilometres long. The total area it covers is 300,000 square kilometres. The gulf lands surrounding it have a tropical climate.

When it rains there it absolutely pours. Vast grasslands, deserts, wild and exotic animals, astonishing and plentiful bird life are also found there in abundance - as are crocodiles. The Gulf Country is located between Arnhem Land on the west and Cape York Peninsula on the east. Once again, mining predominates in the area, but beef cattle are also farmed there.

Answer: Great Victoria Desert

Named after Queen Victoria in 1875 when it was first discovered by Europeans, this desert is nowhere near the state of Victoria as is commonly thought. It is found in the south of the country instead, bridging South Australia and Western Australia. It features pebbly soil, salt lakes and sand dunes.

This pebbly soil is referred to as "Desert Pavement". Only the toughest of small plants survive in this area and it's hardly populated at all except for small groups of aboriginal people now and then. How depressing it all sounds. Nuclear bombs were tested here by the British midway through the last century, and parts of its soil have been contaminated ever since. Just the right spot for a relaxing vacation.

Answer: El-Nino

El-Nino can bring huge amounts of rain to the country as well as flooding everywhere, and the occasional cyclone, but usually it brings long and dreadful droughts. These can break the hearts of the toughest people on the land as they watch their soils dry out, the crops shrivel up, and their livestock perish.

Answer: Todd River

To call the Todd a river is highly complimentary and optimistic. It's more a spit, and in fact, it's usually dry. Alice Springs is located in what we call the Red Centre of Australia. That's a reference to the brilliant red soils which dominate the area.

The surrounding area of this part of the country is just scrub - little hardy bushes which just manage to survive out of sheer stubbornness. Nearby are the MacDonnell Ranges, the area from which the Todd springs. These ranges contain spectacular gorges.

This area of the country once held a vast inland sea, but that too has long since dried up.