How does the Great Dividing Range affect Australia’s landscape?

The Great Dividing Range significantly shapes the Australian landscape by acting as the continent's primary watershed and a major topographical barrier. Stretching 2,300 miles (3,700 km) along the eastern coast, this complex system of plateaus and mountains influences the country in several key ways:1

Hydrological Impact

The range dictates the flow of many of Australia’s principal rivers. Steep eastern slopes feed rivers like the Snowy River, while the gentler western slopes drain into major river systems, including the Darling, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, and Goulburn rivers, which eventually join the Murray River.1

Geographic and Historical Significance

Historically, the highlands acted as a formidable barrier that inhibited early European migration into the interior until the range was successfully traversed in 1813. Topographically, the range varies from 2,000-foot plateaus in the north to the Australian Alps in the south, which contain the continent's highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko. Today, the region supports diverse ecosystems, including eucalyptus woodlands and rainforests, and is vital for agriculture, mining, and tourism.12