What is the Great Artesian Basin?
The Great Artesian Basin is one of the largest underground freshwater systems in the world, lying beneath about a fifth of Australia. It stretches under parts of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The basin covers more than 1.7 million square kilometres. Water seeps into the ground along the Great Dividing Range and slowly moves through porous sandstone layers, taking thousands of years to travel across the basin.
Artesian water is under pressure, so it can rise to the surface naturally through bores and springs without being pumped. Some of the water is more than a million years old.
Lifeline for the outback
Since the late 1800s, pastoralists have drilled thousands of bores to supply water for livestock, towns and homes. The basin made sheep and cattle grazing possible in many dry inland areas.
Natural mound springs, such as those along the Oodnadatta Track, support rare plants and animals found nowhere else. Many springs have dried up because of uncontrolled bores.
Programs to cap bores and replace open drains with pipes have helped reduce waste and restore water pressure. The basin is also important for mining and gas extraction.
Did You Know?
Some outback towns use naturally hot artesian water for public baths and spas.