Australia, the Driest Inhabited Continent
In Australia, the Driest Inhabited Continent, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how, over thousands of years, the continent of Australia changed as it drifted northwards. Water dried up and the rocks have been reduced to sand by the hot blasting winds, creating what is now a vast desert. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
Sir David Attenborough showcases the wonders of our planet's seven continents — from frozen tundras to dense jungles — where life always finds a way.
Lesson Express
Q: Why did the lakes and rivers in Central Australia turn to dust?
A: The continent was drifting further into the hot temperatures of the tropics.
Q: What makes Australia the driest inhabited continent?
A: Roughly 70% of Australia rarely has any rainfall.
Q: Why does the continent appear to be stained red from outer space?
A: The red color is due to iron oxide from the disintegrating rocks.