Editing Queensland (section)

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Queensland}}
[[File:Qld region map 2.PNG|thumb|right|Commonly designated [[regions of Queensland]], with [[Central Queensland]] divided into [[Mackay Region|Mackay]] and [[Shire of Fitzroy|Fitzroy]] subregions]]
[[File:La Gran Barrera 2.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Great Barrier Reef]], which extends along most of Queensland's [[Coral Sea]] coastline]]
[[File:Mossman River during the wet season.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Mossman River]], flowing through the [[Daintree Rainforest]] in [[Far North Queensland]]]]
[[File:BinnaBurra5.JPG|thumb|right|The [[McPherson Range]] at [[Lamington National Park]] in [[South East Queensland]]]]
[[File:Fraser Island Lake McKenzie - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|Lake McKensie, [[K'gari (Fraser Island)]]]]

With a total area of 1,729,742 square kilometres (715,309 square miles), Queensland is an expansive state with a highly diverse range of climates and geographical features. If Queensland were an independent nation, it would be the world's 16th largest.

Queensland's eastern coastline borders the [[Coral Sea]], an arm of the Pacific Ocean. The state is bordered by the [[Torres Strait]] to the north, with [[Boigu Island (Queensland)|Boigu Island]] off the coast of [[New Guinea]] representing the northern extreme of its territory. The triangular [[Cape York Peninsula]], which points toward New Guinea, is the northernmost part of the state's mainland. West of the peninsula's tip, northern Queensland is bordered by the [[Gulf of Carpentaria]]. To the west, Queensland is bordered by the [[Northern Territory]], at the [[138th meridian east]], and to the southwest by northeastern [[South Australia]]. The state's southern border with New South Wales is constituted in the east by the [[drainage divide|watershed]] from [[Point Danger (Tweed Heads)|Point Danger]] to the [[Dumaresq River]], and the Dumaresq, [[Macintyre River|Macintyre]] and [[Barwon River (New South Wales)|Barwon]] rivers. The west of the southern border is defined by the [[29th parallel south]] (including some minor [[Queensland and New South Wales boundary encroachments|historical encroachments]]) until it reaches South Australia.

Like much of eastern Australia, the [[Great Dividing Range]] runs roughly parallel with, and inland from, the coast, and areas west of the range are more arid than the humid coastal regions. The [[Great Barrier Reef]], which is the world's largest [[coral reef]] system, runs parallel to the state's [[Coral Sea]] coast between the [[Torres Strait]] and [[K'gari (Fraser Island)]]. Queensland's coastline includes the world's three largest sand islands: [[K'gari (Fraser Island)]], [[Moreton Island|Moreton]], and [[North Stradbroke Island|North Stradbroke]].

The state contains six [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage]]-listed preservation areas: the Great Barrier Reef along the Coral Sea coast, K'gari (Fraser Island) on the [[Wide Bay–Burnett]] region's coastline, the [[Wet Tropics of Queensland|wet tropics]] in [[Far North Queensland]] including the [[Daintree Rainforest]], [[Lamington National Park]] in [[South East Queensland]], the [[Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh)|Riversleigh fossil sites]] in [[Gulf Country|North West Queensland]], and the [[Gondwana Rainforests]] in South East Queensland.

The state is divided into several [[Regions of Queensland|unofficial regions]] which are commonly used to refer to large areas of the state's vast geography. These include:
* '''[[South East Queensland]]''' in the state's coastal extreme south-eastern corner, an urban region which includes the state's three largest cities: capital city Brisbane and popular coastal tourist destinations the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] and [[Sunshine Coast, Queensland|Sunshine Coast]]. In some definitions, it also includes the city of [[Toowoomba, Queensland|Toowoomba]]. South East Queensland accounts for more than 70% of the state's population.
* The '''[[Darling Downs]]''' in the state's inland southeast, which consists of fertile agricultural (particularly cattle grazing) land and in some definitions includes the city of Toowoomba. The region also includes the mountainous [[Granite Belt]], the state's coldest region which occasionally experiences snow.
* '''[[Wide Bay–Burnett]]''' in the state's coastal southeast, to the north of the South East Queensland region. It is rich in [[sugar cane]] farms and includes the cities of [[Bundaberg]], [[Hervey Bay]] as well as [[K'gari (Fraser Island)]], the world's largest sand island.
* '''[[Central Queensland]]''' on the state's central coastline, which is dominated by cattle farmland and coal mining. It contains the [[Capricorn Coast]] and [[Whitsunday Islands]] tourist regions, as well as the cities of [[Rockhampton]] and [[Mackay, Queensland|Mackay]].
* '''[[North Queensland]]''' on the state's northern coastline, which is dominated by cattle farmland and mining and which includes the city of [[Townsville]].
* '''[[Far North Queensland]]''' on the state's extreme northern coastline along the [[Cape York Peninsula]], which includes [[tropical rainforest]], the state's highest mountain, [[Mount Bartle Frere]], the [[Atherton Tablelands]] pastoral region (dominated by [[sugar cane]] and [[tropical fruit]]s), the most visited section of the [[Great Barrier Reef]], as well as the city of [[Cairns, Queensland|Cairns]].
* '''[[South West Queensland]]''' in the state's inland south-west, which is a primarily agricultural region dominated by cattle farmland, and which includes the [[Channel Country]] region of [[braided river|intertwining rivulets]].
* '''[[Central West Queensland]]''' in the state's inland central-west, dominated by cattle farmland and which includes the city of [[Longreach, Queensland|Longreach]].
* The '''[[Gulf Country]]''' (also known as North West Queensland), in the state's inland north-west along the [[Gulf of Carpentaria]], which is dominated by [[savanna]] and mining and includes the [[city of Mount Isa]].

===Climate===
[[File:Queensland Köppen.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types]] in Queensland]]

Because of its size, there is significant variation in climate across the state. There is ample rainfall along the coastline, with a [[monsoon]]al wet season in the [[Tropical climate|tropical]] north, and [[Humid subtropical climate|humid sub-tropical]] conditions along the southern coastline. Low rainfall and hot humid summers are typical for the inland and west. Elevated areas in the south-eastern inland can experience temperatures well below freezing in mid-winter providing [[frost]] and, rarely, [[snowfall]]. The climate of the coastal regions is influenced by warm ocean waters, keeping the region free from extremes of temperature and providing moisture for rainfall.<ref>{{cite web|author=National Climate Centre|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/ausclim/ausclimqld.htm|title= Climate of Queensland|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=4 August 2010|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090317054300/https://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/96122/20090317-1643/www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/ausclim/ausclimqld.html|archive-date=17 March 2009}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

There are six predominant climatic zones in Queensland,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/cgi_bin_scripts/clim_classification.cgi|title=Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology – Australian climatic zones|publisher=Bom.gov.au|access-date=4 August 2010}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> based on temperature and humidity:
* Hot humid summer, warm humid winter (far north and coastal): [[Cairns]], [[Innisfail, Queensland|Innisfail]]
* Hot humid summer, warm dry winter (north and coastal): [[Townsville]], [[Mackay, Queensland|Mackay]]
* Hot humid summer, mild dry winter (coastal elevated areas and coastal south-east): [[Brisbane]], [[Bundaberg]], [[Rockhampton]]
* Hot dry summer, mild dry winter (central inland and north-west): [[Mt Isa]], [[Emerald, Queensland|Emerald]], [[Longreach]]
* Hot dry summer, cool dry winter (southern inland): [[Roma, Queensland|Roma]], [[Charleville, Queensland|Charleville]], [[Goondiwindi]]
* Warm humid summer, cold dry winter (elevated south-eastern areas): [[Toowoomba]], [[Warwick, Queensland|Warwick]], [[Stanthorpe]]

The annual average climatic statistics<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/index.shtml|title=Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology – Climate statistics for Australian locations|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|date=19 July 2010|access-date=4 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224073401/https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/index.shtml|archive-date=24 February 2011}}</ref> for selected Queensland cities are shown below:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!City
!Mean daily min. temp
!Mean daily max. temp
!No. clear days
!Rainfall
|-
|[[Brisbane]]
|align=center| {{convert|15.7|C}}|| align=center | {{convert|25.5|C}} || align=center | 113.1 || align=center | {{convert|1149.1|mm|abbr=on}}<ref>{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref = cw_040214 |site_name = Brisbane Regional Office |access-date =26 September 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Mackay, Queensland|Mackay]]
|align=center | {{convert|19.0|C}} || align=center | {{convert|26.4|C}} || align=center | 123.0 || align=center | {{convert|1570.7|mm|abbr=on}}<ref>{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref = cw_033119 |site_name = Mackay M.O. |access-date =26 September 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Cairns]]
|align=center | {{convert|21.0|C}} || align=center | {{convert|29.2|C}} || align=center | 89.7 || align=center | {{convert|1982.2|mm|abbr=on}}<ref>{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref = cw_031011 |site_name = Cairns Aero |access-date =20 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
|[[Townsville]]
|align=center | {{convert|19.8|C}} || align=center | {{convert|28.9|C}} || align="center" | 120.9 || align=center | {{convert|1136.7|mm|abbr=on}}<ref>{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref = cw_032040 |site_name = Townsville Aero |access-date =26 September 2010}}</ref>
|}

The coastal far north of the state is the wettest region in Australia, with [[Mount Bellenden Ker]], south of Cairns, holding many Australian rainfall records with its annual average rainfall of over {{convert|8|m}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/extreme/records.shtml|title=Rainfall and Temperature Records|date=28 February 2013|work=Climate Extremes|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=26 March 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313040735/https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/extreme/records.shtml|archive-date=13 March 2014}}</ref> Snow is rare in Queensland, although it does fall with some regularity along the far southern border with New South Wales, predominantly in the Stanthorpe district although on rare occasions further north and west. The most northerly snow ever recorded in Australia occurred near [[Mackay, Queensland|Mackay]]; however, this was exceptional.<ref>{{cite web|title=Queensland Snow Events|url=https://www.weatherarmidale.com/Qld%20Snow%20Table.htm|access-date=16 May 2014|publisher=Weather Armidale|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210210100/https://www.weatherarmidale.com/Qld%20Snow%20Table.htm|archive-date=10 December 2013}}</ref>
 
Natural disasters are often a threat in Queensland: severe [[tropical cyclone]]s can impact the central and northern coastlines and cause severe damage,<ref>{{cite web|title = Queensland Cyclones|url=https://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/emq/css/cyclone.asp |publisher=Emergency Management Queensland|access-date=4 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528055451/https://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/emq/css/cyclone.asp |archive-date=28 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with recent examples including [[Cyclone Larry|Larry]], [[Cyclone Yasi|Yasi]], [[Cyclone Ita|Ita]] and [[Cyclone Debbie|Debbie]]. Flooding from rain-bearing systems can also be severe and can occur anywhere in Queensland. One of the deadliest and most damaging floods in the history of the state occurred in [[2010-11 Queensland floods|early 2011]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Queensland Floods Summary |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood/fld_history/floodsum_2010.shtml |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606224918/https://www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood/fld_history/floodsum_2010.shtml |archive-date=6 June 2014 }}</ref> Severe springtime [[thunderstorm]]s generally affect the south-east and inland of the state and can bring damaging winds, torrential rain, large [[hail]] and even [[tornado]]es.<ref>{{cite web|title=Queensland Severe Storms |url=https://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/emq/css/severe_storm.asp |publisher=Emergency Management Queensland |access-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710081838/https://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/emq/css/severe_storm.asp |archive-date=10 July 2014 }}</ref> The [[Bucca tornado|strongest tornado]] ever recorded in Australia occurred in Queensland near [[Bundaberg]] in November 1992.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tornadoes|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/storm1.htm |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=6 April 2008 |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090317054300/https://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/96122/20090317-1643/www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/storm1.html |archive-date=17 March 2009}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Droughts and [[Bushfires in Australia|bushfires]] can also occur; however, the latter are generally less severe than those that occur in southern states.

The highest official maximum temperature recorded in the state was {{convert|49.5|C}} at Birdsville Police Station on 24 December 1972.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rainfall and Temperature Records|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/extreme/records.shtml|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology (Australian Government)|access-date=13 June 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604220616/https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/extreme/records.shtml|archive-date=4 June 2013}}</ref> The lowest recorded minimum temperature is {{convert|−10.6|C}} at Stanthorpe on 23 June 1961 and at The Hermitage (near [[Warwick, Queensland|Warwick]]) on 12 July 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/extreme/records/national.pdf|title=Rainfall and Temperature Records: National|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=14 November 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110130846/https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/extreme/records/national.pdf|archive-date=10 November 2010}}</ref>{{Weather box
| location = Queensland
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 49.0
| Feb record high C = 47.2
| Mar record high C = 46.7
| Apr record high C = 41.7
| May record high C = 39.3
| Jun record high C = 36.0
| Jul record high C = 36.1
| Aug record high C = 38.5
| Sep record high C = 42.8
| Oct record high C = 45.1
| Nov record high C = 48.7
| Dec record high C = 49.5
| year record high C = 49.5
| Jan record low C = 5.4
| Feb record low C = 3.3
| Mar record low C = -0.2
| Apr record low C = -3.5
| May record low C = -6.9
| Jun record low C = -10.6
| Jul record low C = -10.6
| Aug record low C = -9.4
| Sep record low C = -5.6
| Oct record low C = -3.6
| Nov record low C = 0.0
| Dec record low C = 2.2
| year record low C = -10.6
| source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/extremes/daily_extremes.cgi?climtab=tmax_high&area=qld&year=2017&mon=02&day=12|title=Official records for Queensland in February|date=30 June 2017|work=Daily Extremes|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=8 July 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312213434/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/extremes/daily_extremes.cgi?climtab=tmax_high&area=qld&year=2017&mon=02&day=12|archive-date=12 March 2018}}</ref>
| source 2 = Bureau of Meteorology<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/extremes/daily_extremes.cgi?period=%2Fcgi-bin%2Fclimate%2Fextremes%2Fdaily_extremes.cgi&climtab=tmin_low&area=qld&year=2016&mon=10&day=31|title=Official records for Queensland in October|date=30 June 2017|work=Daily Extremes|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=8 July 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312213437/https://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/extremes/daily_extremes.cgi?period=%2Fcgi-bin%2Fclimate%2Fextremes%2Fdaily_extremes.cgi&climtab=tmin_low&area=qld&year=2016&mon=10&day=31|archive-date=12 March 2018}}</ref>
| date = July 2017
| source = Bureau of Meteorology<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/extremes/monthly_extremes.cgi?period=%2Fcgi-bin%2Fclimate%2Fextremes%2Fmonthly_extremes.cgi&climtab=tmax_high&area=qld&year=2018&mon=9year=2016&mon=10&day=31|title=Official records for Queensland in September|date=December 31, 2022|work=Daily Extremes|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=December 24, 2023|archive-date=4 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104142803/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/extremes/monthly_extremes.cgi?period=/cgi-bin/climate/extremes/monthly_extremes.cgi&climtab=tmax_high&area=qld&year=2018&mon=9year=2016&mon=10&day=31|url-status=live}}</ref>
| source 3 = 
}}