Great Victoria Desert – Overview

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Great_Victoria_desert?topic=74361

 http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/australian_deserts.html

The Great Victoria Desert is the largest desert in the continent of Australia and the eight largest desert in the world overall, covering roughly 163900 square miles. It is located in the South-Western region of Australia, stretching from the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia to the Gawler Ranges in Southern Australia.  It is one of the five deserts and among the many different ecosystems located in the vast but sparsely populated region known as the Australian Outback.

-http://worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/aa1305

-http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/australian_deserts.html

The Great Victoria Desert is considered to be a hot, arid desert, receiving only 150 to 250 mm(5.9 to 9.8 inches) of rain annually.  However the rain tends to be random and unpredictable throughout the year.  Summers can achieve high temperatures reaching temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius and in the winter can reach temperatures below freezing in the middle of the night.

 

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Great_Victoria_desert?topic=74361

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~fgvd/facts.htm

http://www.outdoorssa.com.au/Feature%20Stories/Coongie%20Lake.htm

The Great Victoria Desert is mostly covered in sand dunes, especially in the low-elevation areas, dispersed among low ranges, tabletops, and plains.  In other areas, there are special regions called gibber plains, which are regions of the desert completely covered in pebbles. Little vegetation can live in this sort of environment, though during times of rain, some temporary plants will sprout. 

-http://worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/aa1305