Description
Located within the driest region of the Australian continent, the Simpson Desert is one of the world's best examples of dunal desert, a sea of parallel red sand ridges some 300 - 500 kilometres long covering a total area of 170,000 square kilometres. Although it receives slightly more rainfall than the Sahara Desert, the mean annual rainfall of 130 millimetres is very variable and unpredictable. Summer temperatures can exceed 50° C.
The Simpson Desert lies across the corners of 3 States, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, with the South Australian section divided into 3 protected areas, Simpson Desert Conservation Park, Simpson Desert Regional Reserve and Witjira National Park.
4WD touring in the Simpson Desert requires careful preparation.
