Great Sandy Desert Facts for Kids

The Great Sandy Desert is Australia's second largest desert. It is located between the regions of Pilbara and Southern Kimberley in the north-western area of Western Australia. The Great Sandy Desert biome occurs across approximately 284,996 kilometers of Australia and is home to many species of plants and animals.

Discover the most interesting facts about the Great Sandy Desert Biome with our fact sheet for kids including the most important information regarding its location, climate conditions, thunderstorm activity, rainfall and precipitation, size, animal species and plant life. Find out how animals and plants survive the arid conditions of the Great Sandy Desert, what the average summer and winter temperatures are, plus many unusual facts, information about rivers and water sources, and the structure and formation of the Great Sandy Desert.

Interesting Facts about Australian Deserts for Kids:- The major deserts of Australia include the Great Victoria Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Tanami Desert, and Simpson Desert of which the Great Sandy is the second biggest. Our interesting facts can help kids to learn some of the most amazing information about Australia.  Did you know that the Great Sandy Desert has a very hot climate, especially in summer? Did you know that many types of marsupial animals live in the Great Sandy Biome? Do you know that many plant species are able to survive the arid conditions of the Great Sandy Desert? Did you know that the term 'desertification' can be defined as the process by which fertile land becomes desert?

Interesting Facts about Australian Deserts for Kids:- Our list of Interesting Australian Desert Facts for Kids is free to print and includes important facts about the Great Victoria Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Tanami Desert, Simpson Desert, Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert.

Interesting Facts about the Great Sandy Desert for Kids

Australian Deserts Fact File for Kids:- Name: Great Sandy Desert *** Average Summer Temperature: 38 - 42 degrees Celsius *** Average Winter Temperature:  25 - 30 degrees Celsius *** Climate: Hot and dry *** Size: 284,994 square kilometres (110,036 square miles) *** Location: The Great Sandy Desert is located in Australia

Interesting Facts for Kids 1:- Where is the Great Sandy Desert located?
The Great Sandy Desert is located in Australia, more precisely in the north-western part of Western Australia where it occurs between Pilbara and the Southern Kimberley Region.

Interesting Facts for Kids 2:- What is the temperature in the Great Sandy Desert?
The temperature of the Great Sandy Desert varies depending on the region. During the summer months, the climate can be extremely hot whereas during winter, the temperature is far more comfortable. On the north border of the Great Sandy Desert, at Halls Creek, the average day temperature is 37 - 38 degrees Celsius while on the southern border, the average temperature is between 38 - 42 degrees Celsius. During the winter season, the average temperature of the Great Sandy Desert is still fairly high but far more bearable than the extreme temperatures experienced during the hottest months. During winter, the average temperature is between 25 - 30 degrees Celsius.

Interesting Facts for Kids 3:- What is the climate of the Great Sandy Desert?
The climate of the Great Sandy Desert can be characterized as hot with a humidity of 10-20%. There are two seasons which occur in the Great Sandy Desert: summer and winter. Australia is very hot during summer with some of the hottest days occurring in the desert. The winter seasons are more bearable, and tend to be short and mild. Frost is very rare and occurs only in some parts of the desert. At the Gibson Desert border, frost can appear once or twice a year.

Interesting Facts for Kids 4:- Great Sandy Desert Rainfall Facts
The Great Sandy Desert is very big, therefore, the amount of rainfall the biome receives varies from regions to region. Near the Kimberley region, the average rainfall is 300mm. Drought years are followed by a monsoon cloud mass or tropical cyclone. Although the amount of rainfall is high in certain parts of the Great Sandy Desert, with the lowest precipitation levels being around 250mm, the evaporation rate is higher. The majority of rainfall occurs during thunderstorms and most areas of the Great Sandy Desert receive around 20-30 days of thunderstorms per year. Areas closer to the north border can receive 30-40 days of thunderstorms. Unfortunately, the thunderstorms are very unpredictable and can be very dangerous, especially for people that are inadequately equipped.

Interesting Facts for Kids 5:- How big is the Great Sandy Desert?
The Great Sandy Desert encompasses an area of 284,994 square kilometres (110,036 square miles) making it the second biggest desert in Australia, after the Great Victoria Desert. The Great Sandy Desert is bordered in the south by the Gibson Desert and in east by the Tanami Desert.

Interesting Facts for Kids 6:- What animals live in the Great Sandy Desert?
The Great Sandy Desert is home to many species of wild animals such as feral camels, dingo, goannas, birds (Alexandra’s parrot, Scarlet-chested parrot, Mulga parrot), bilbies, mulgaras, marsupial moles, Thorny Devils, Bearder Dragons, Red Kangaroo and many other wildlife species.

Interesting Facts for Kids 7:- How do Great Sandy Desert animals survive?
In order to survive the harsh climatic conditions of the Great Sandy Desert, animals have to adapt to their environment. Most animals have unique physical abilities which help them survive. Some animals, such as the Kangaroo Rat, do not drink a single drop of water for their entire life. The Kangaroo Rat stays hydrated through the consumption of a diet of plants and insects. Some have found ways to deal with intense heat by cooling themselves down by panting. Long-eared animals use external organs to balance their body temperature, by transferring heat outside their bodies. In order to adapt and survive life in the Great Sandy Desert, some species of birds urinate on their feet. This is the case of big raptors that feed on corpses. In this case, urine has two beneficial functionalities; firstly it can reduce overheating, and secondly, it can disinfects the legs following direct contact with the bodies of dead animals. Some types of animals dig burrows and stay in the shadows until the heat is less intense. Other animals are not fazed by exposure to the hot sun of the Great Sandy Desert, namely reptiles such as lizards that enjoy soaking up sun rays during the day, even though their main activity takes place at night. Most Great Sandy Desert animals remain passive during the day in order to conserve energy.

Interesting Facts for Kids 8:- Australian Bilbies
There are many types of marsupial animals found living in the Great Sandy Desert including Bilbies which are marsupial omnivores that can grow up to 20-25 cm long. This type of marsupial animal is classed as an endangered species. It adapts well to life in the Great Sandy Desert as it has a long muzzle and large ears that it cleverly uses to radiate heat. Bilbies are nocturnal and they do not drink water. They obtain moisture from their diet of insects, larvae, plants, fruits and seeds. This animal digs up burrows as a means of escaping predators.

Interesting Facts for Kids 9:- Great Sandy Desert food web facts
The food web refers to the way energy is transferred through food chains. Producers (Spinifex) are eaten by the Primary consumers (insects, herbivores, rodents). They are also eaten by the Secondary consumer (lizards, reptiles, small mammals). Tertiary consumers (predators) eat Secondary consumers. Finally, after their death, the last predators of the Great Sandy Desert are consumed by First Consumer (ants, termites) and Producers (bacteria).

Interesting Facts for Kids 11:- What plants grow in the Great Sandy Desert?
Many species of plant life can be found growing in the Great Sandy Desert including trees, shrubs, cacti, herbs and grasses. Some of the most popular Great Sandy Desert plant names include Desert Blackwood, Soft Spinifex, Bramble Water, Paperbark, Desert Walnut, Grevillea, Acacias, Camel Thorn Tree, and Stuart’s Red Pea.

Interesting Facts for Kids 12:- Great Sandy Desert plant adaptations
In order to survive extreme desert conditions, plants had to develop ways to evolve. This is the reason why they grow spines – to retain moisture levels and provide shade. Some of the plants store water in their leaves. The leaves are covered with a layer of wax that prevents water from evaporating. Another method that many desert plants adapt is the growth of small leaves which slow down the transpiration process. Some plants in the Great Sandy Desert grow deep roots just to find the water they require for survival. Their roots can grow as long as 100m in the ground.

Interesting Facts for Kids 13:- Great Sandy Desert landscape and vegetation
The formation of the Great Sandy Desert's landscape is characterized mainly by red sand dune fields, several lakes and wetlands, rocky outcrops and short ephemeral drainages. Most of the Great Sandy Desert rivers flow only after heavy rainfalls. This type of arid environment can make it hard for the plants to grow, but once the rain begins to fall, the Great Sandy Desert landscape starts to change. Most of the seeds have a protective coat that runs off when the rain pours, and then, the vegetation starts to bloom.

Interesting Facts for Kids 14:- Unusual facts about the Great Sandy Desert
There is one touristic attraction in the Great Sandy Desert that has received a supernatural explication. More than 300,000 years ago, a 55 ton asteroid hit the Earth, in the Great Sandy Desert. The trace is still visible and can be visited. The area is called The Wolfe Creek Crater. The crater measures about half a mile in diameter. Some Aboriginal belief says that it is the trace that the Rainbow Serpent left when he came out of the ground.

Interesting Australian Deserts Facts for Kids