What is the Australian outback?
The outback is the vast, remote and sparsely populated interior of Australia. It covers most of the continent and includes deserts, dry grasslands, rugged ranges and huge cattle stations, far from the coastal cities.
There is no exact boundary for the outback. Generally, it refers to inland areas beyond the farming regions near the coast, stretching across Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory, western Queensland and western New South Wales.
The outback is known for its red soil, big skies and extreme temperatures. Rainfall is low and unreliable, though floods can transform the landscape after rare heavy rains.
Towns are small and far apart. Places such as Alice Springs, Broken Hill, Coober Pedy, Mount Isa and Birdsville serve as hubs for huge surrounding areas.
People and culture
Aboriginal people have lived in the outback for tens of thousands of years, and many communities maintain strong connections to their country. The outback is also home to pastoral stations, mines and tourism businesses.
Services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air were created to support people living in isolated areas. The outback plays a big part in Australia's identity, art and stories.