Q. Which of the following statements with regard to the Central Lowlands of Australia is/are correct?
1.The Central Lowlands form an extensive interior basin positioned between the Eastern Highlands and the Western Plateau.
2.The Great Artesian Basin lies beneath this region, containing pressurized groundwater aquifers that discharge naturally via artesian wells.
3.The groundwater extracted from the Great Artesian Basin is generally saline, rendering it more suitable for livestock watering than human drinking water.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer: D
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: The Central Lowlands occupy the structural sag between the ancient Western Shield and the Eastern Highlands.
- Statement 2 is correct: The Great Artesian Basin is one of the world’s largest underground freshwater resources, where confined groundwater is trapped under high hydrostatic pressure between impermeable clay layers.
- Statement 3 is correct: High concentrations of dissolved mineral salts (sodium bicarbonate and soluble salts) make artesian water brackish. It is primarily used for pastoral stock watering rather than direct human consumption.
