Understanding the Great Artesian Basin's Location

The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is one of the largest underground freshwater reservoirs in the world. It spans across a significant portion of inland Australia, providing a vital water source for communities, agriculture, and industries in arid and semi-arid regions.

The vast area covered by the Great Artesian Basin includes parts of four Australian states and territories:

• Queensland
• New South Wales (NSW)
• South Australia (SA)
• Northern Territory (NT)

While the basin extends into all four areas, the proportion of the basin located within each jurisdiction varies significantly.

Identifying the Major Portion of the Great Artesian Basin

To determine the major portion of the Great Artesian Basin, we need to consider the area it covers within each state or territory. Geological surveys and geographical data indicate that the largest area of the Great Artesian Basin lies within Queensland.

Let's look at how the basin is distributed across the listed options and other relevant areas:

• Western Australia: The Great Artesian Basin does not extend into Western Australia.
• Victoria: The Great Artesian Basin does not extend into Victoria.
• Queensland: A very large area of western and central Queensland is underlain by the Great Artesian Basin. This state holds the most extensive portion of the basin.
• Northern Territory: A significant but smaller portion of the Great Artesian Basin is located in the southeastern part of the Northern Territory.
• New South Wales: The Great Artesian Basin covers a large area in the northern part of New South Wales.
• South Australia: The Great Artesian Basin extends into the northeastern part of South Australia.

Comparing the areas covered, Queensland contains the largest geographical extent of the Great Artesian Basin.

Based on this distribution, Queensland contains the major portion of the Great Artesian Basin.

Analysis of the Options

Let's examine the provided options in light of our understanding of the Great Artesian Basin's location:

• Western Australia: Incorrect. The Great Artesian Basin does not extend into Western Australia.
• Victoria: Incorrect. The Great Artesian Basin does not extend into Victoria.
• Queensland: Correct. Queensland contains the largest area of the Great Artesian Basin.
• Northern Territory: Incorrect. While the Great Artesian Basin is present in the Northern Territory, the major portion is not located there; it is primarily in Queensland.

Therefore, the major portion of the Great Artesian Basin in Australia is located in Queensland.

Revision Table: Great Artesian Basin Facts

Additional Information: Importance of the Great Artesian Basin

The Great Artesian Basin is crucial for the sustainability of life and economic activities in vast areas of inland Australia. Water from the basin is often accessed through bores (wells) that tap into the aquifer. The water pressure within the basin is often high enough to cause the water to flow to the surface naturally, hence the term "artesian". Managing this valuable resource sustainably is a significant focus for Australian authorities and communities to ensure its long-term availability.