The physical template of Australia's rivers

Abstract

The physical character of Australian rivers is as diverse as the country's people and their cultural origins. Many rivers meander slowly through the lowland interior of the country, never making their way to the sea, while others do so and often rush down steep rocky gorges or flow hidden beneath the ground in limestone caves. Some rivers only flow after prolonged rainfall has saturated desert surfaces and some flow all year round with little variation in water levels.