Great Dividing Range

Great Dividing Range, system of mountain ranges and plateaux in eastern Australia. Also known as the Great Divide or Eastern Highlands, it extends for more than 3,500 km (2,175 mi) along the eastern coast of Australia from the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland to Victoria State; a branch of the system is submerged in Bass Strait before reappearing as the central highlands of the island of Tasmania. Sections of the Great Dividing Range include the Clarke and McPherson ranges (in Queensland), the Blue Mountains (near Sydney), the Australian Alps and the Snowy Mountains (near Canberra), and the Grampians (near Melbourne). Mount Kosciusko (2,228 m/7,310 ft), in the Australian Alps, is the highest peak in Australia.

The Great Dividing Range varies greatly in geological age and topography. The eastern slopes of the range are generally steeper than the western slopes. In the Blue Mountains the deep valleys and high ridges are thick with vegetation. The Snowy Mountains are popular for skiing and bush walking. On a spur of the McPherson Range, Hendersons Knob offers gorges, spectacular waterfalls, and walking trails with coastal views. The Australian Alps draw many skiers during winter months. Several major rivers, including the Darling, Murray, Murrumbidgee, and Snowy, rise in the Great Dividing Range. The rivers supply large irrigation and hydroelectric schemes.