Great Artesian Basin

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/great-artesian-basin

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Great Artesian Basin?Approximately 1,700,000 square kilometers (660,000 sq mi)
2. How deep is Great Artesian Basin?Up to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet)
3. What is the estimated groundwater volume?64,900 cubic kilometers (15,600 cubic miles)
4. What is the water temperature range?30°C to 100°C (86°F to 212°F)
5. Where does the water in the Great Artesian Basin come from?Rainwater in the eastern parts of the basin, especially near the Great Dividing Range, seeps into porous sandstone layers and slowly moves down and sideways into the basin.
6. Why is the Great Artesian Basin important for Australian towns and farms?It supplies water for livestock, irrigation, and drinking, helping farms grow crops and towns stay healthy.

Artesian Basin: A geological formation containing confined groundwater under hydrostatic pressure, often resulting in natural water flow from wells.
Confined Aquifer: An aquifer that is overlain by a confining layer (aquiclude), restricting the movement of groundwater.
Hydrostatic Pressure: The pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium due to the force of gravity, which increases with depth.
Geothermal Gradient: The rate at which temperature increases with depth within the Earth's crust and upper mantle.