Great Escarpment, Australia
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The Great Escarpment | |
|---|---|
 The topography of Australia with The Great Escarpment to the east of the Great Dividing Range that is coloured in white on the east coast | |
 Interactive map of The Great Escarpment | |
| Coordinates: 31°59′S 149°53′E / 31.983°S 149.883°E | |
| Location | Eastern Australia |
| Range | Great Dividing Range |
| Age | Mesozoic |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | circa 3,600 kilometres (2,200 mi)[1] |
The Great Escarpment in eastern Australia is an escarpment that runs east of the Great Dividing Range along most of the east of the continent. It was created due to formation of a new continental margin in the Mesozoic, followed by tectonic uplifting of the divide and then scarp retreat.[2] The escarpment is estimated to be approximately 3,600 kilometres (2,200 mi) in length, from north to south.[1]
The Great Escarpment formed about 80 million years ago due to scarp retreat from a new continental edge formed by rifting.[3] This was similar to the model in the western rift of East Africa.[3] The Great Divide is an upwarp that lies tens or hundreds of kilometers from the chasmic fault of the continental margin, creating a drainage divide. The sequence of formation appears to have started with erosion of the plain and formation of a river pattern.[3] The traces of these rivers can still be seen.[2] There were then widespread flows of basalt, after which the Great Divide lifted, and finally the Great Escarpment formed through scarp retreat.[3]
