South Australia is the driest state in Australia. The South Australian Outback covers about 80% of South Australia and is made up of desert, sand
hills and salt pans. The area is almost twice the size of Texas and is billions of years old. One salt lake is a big as Singapore! Driving distances are long - the Stuart Highway goes from
Adelaide to Darwin and traverses two states in 1,870 miles. The region is a land of vivid red soil, native flowers in the spring, dramatic ridges and peaks with Australian wildlife. Highlights
of this region include the opal mining town of Coober Pedy, which supplies 80% of the world's quality opal, William Creek, the Gawler Rangers, Wilpena Pound, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, the
Birdsville Track with the famous Birdsville Hotel and pub, the Prairie Hotel in Parachilina, the Strzelecki Track, the Oodnadatta Track, Anna Creek Station (the world's largest cattle station at
34,000 square miles), Simpson Desert Conservation Park, Heysen Trail and Lake Eyre National Park.
The famous Australian train, The Ghan, also traverses this area on its way from
Adelaide to Darwin and the Indian Pacific comes through South Australia on its way to Perth in Western Australia.
Click on the buttons above to learn more about this fascinating area of South Australia
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