What is the driest state in Australia?
South Australia is the driest state in Australia, the driest inhabited continent on Earth. Much of the state receives less than 250 millimetres of rain a year, and large areas are desert.
About 80 percent of South Australia receives less than 250 millimetres of rain annually. The state includes parts of the Simpson Desert, the Strzelecki Desert and the Great Victoria Desert.
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, in the north of the state, is usually a dry salt pan. It only fills with water occasionally, after heavy rain far away in Queensland flows down inland rivers.
Living with little water
Most South Australians live in the wetter southeast, especially in Adelaide, which receives around 550 millimetres of rain a year. The city relies heavily on the Murray River and a desalination plant for its water supply.
Farmers grow wheat, barley and grapes in the more reliable rainfall areas, while pastoral stations in the north run cattle and sheep over huge areas.
Although South Australia is the driest state, Western Australia and the Northern Territory also have vast arid regions. Antarctica is the only continent drier than Australia overall.
Did You Know?
South Australia is home to Coober Pedy, where many residents live underground to escape the heat.