Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth with 70% classified as arid. The centre of the country is known variously as the Outback, the Red Centre, and red country, and for good reason. It is a huge area covering parts of all States and the Northern Territory with only our Island State, Tasmania untouched by it. The area is mostly desert with a fine sandy soil in various shades of red and orange. Most Australians live on the coastal fringe of our huge continent, a land mass as large as both China and the United States. Australians tend to see the centre as the heart and soul of their country. And not far from the exact centre is a huge monolith, Uluru. It is a red sandstone rock standing higher than the Effile Tower and 10 killometres around. It stands in the middle of a vast flat desert area and like much of central Australia, it is a place of great beauty and timeless mystery. I hope these postcards convey just some of the beauty of the area. GH
