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Little Sandy Desert
The Little Sandy Desert (LSD) is a desert region in the state of Western Australia, lying to the east of the Pilbara and north of the Gascoyne regions. It is part of the Western Desert cultural region, and was declared an interim Australian bioregion in the 1990s.
Indigenous groups that have identified with the region include the Mandilara, an Aboriginal Australian group who are regarded as the traditional owners of the land. Today the group recognised as traditional owners are the Martu people.
The desert is crossed by the Canning Stock Route, an historic stock route created in the early 20th century.
The Little Sandy Desert covers around 110,900 km2 (42,800 sq mi) and adjoins the Great Sandy Desert (267,250 km2 (103,190 sq mi), to the north) and the Gibson Desert (156,300 km2 (60,300 sq mi), to the east), all of which lie within the huge Australian Arid Zone which covers the centre of the Australian continent. It lies east of the Pilbara region, and north of Gascoyne, and is part of the Western Desert.
To the north the nearest large area identifiable is the Karlamilyi National Park.
Its landforms, fauna and flora are all similar to the Great Sandy Desert. The three deserts have low and highly variable rainfall, averaging 250–350 mm (9.8–13.8 in) annually, with most of it in summer. The median annual rainfall, based on the years 1890–2005, across the whole of the LSD is 178 mm (7.0 in). and are subject to extreme heat. The landscape is dominated by red sand dunes, sandstone mesas and rocky plains.
The Rudall River has its headwaters in the LSD, flowing northeast into the southern Great Sandy Desert, where it occasionally empties into Lake Dora, an ephemeral salt lake. There are a few permanent water sources in the hills, and some waterholes left by the Canning Stock Route.
The town of Jigalong is on the western edge of the desert, with a population of approximately 300 in 2016. The traditional owners of this area are recognised as the Martu people. There are also two smaller communities at Parnngurr and Punmu.
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Little Sandy Desert
The Little Sandy Desert (LSD) is a desert region in the state of Western Australia, lying to the east of the Pilbara and north of the Gascoyne regions. It is part of the Western Desert cultural region, and was declared an interim Australian bioregion in the 1990s.
Indigenous groups that have identified with the region include the Mandilara, an Aboriginal Australian group who are regarded as the traditional owners of the land. Today the group recognised as traditional owners are the Martu people.
The desert is crossed by the Canning Stock Route, an historic stock route created in the early 20th century.
The Little Sandy Desert covers around 110,900 km2 (42,800 sq mi) and adjoins the Great Sandy Desert (267,250 km2 (103,190 sq mi), to the north) and the Gibson Desert (156,300 km2 (60,300 sq mi), to the east), all of which lie within the huge Australian Arid Zone which covers the centre of the Australian continent. It lies east of the Pilbara region, and north of Gascoyne, and is part of the Western Desert.
To the north the nearest large area identifiable is the Karlamilyi National Park.
Its landforms, fauna and flora are all similar to the Great Sandy Desert. The three deserts have low and highly variable rainfall, averaging 250–350 mm (9.8–13.8 in) annually, with most of it in summer. The median annual rainfall, based on the years 1890–2005, across the whole of the LSD is 178 mm (7.0 in). and are subject to extreme heat. The landscape is dominated by red sand dunes, sandstone mesas and rocky plains.
The Rudall River has its headwaters in the LSD, flowing northeast into the southern Great Sandy Desert, where it occasionally empties into Lake Dora, an ephemeral salt lake. There are a few permanent water sources in the hills, and some waterholes left by the Canning Stock Route.
The town of Jigalong is on the western edge of the desert, with a population of approximately 300 in 2016. The traditional owners of this area are recognised as the Martu people. There are also two smaller communities at Parnngurr and Punmu.