ALICE SPRINGS, a telegraph station on the overland tele graph line (Adelaide—Port Darwin) in the central southern por tion of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated near the centre of the Macdonnell ranges, 994m. from Adelaide and I,Io5m. from Port Darwin, it lies virtually in the centre of the continent. Heavitree Gap, the largest and most conveniently situ ated of the characteristic gorge-like passes through the ranges, lies 4m. to the south, and upon this gap the telegraph line and a considerable stock-route traffic converge. Through this gap also will run the new railway line from Oodnadatta to Alice Springs now under construction. Alice Springs (altitude 1,926ft.) stands on the central Australian platform (average elevation c. 2,000f t.) . The climate, hot in summer but fine and bracing in winter, suffers from the extremes associated with every continental position. (Mean annual temp.: 69.8 ° ; annual range : 31.5 ° ; diurnal range: 40-50°, sinking at times to 8—IO° below freezing point in winter nights. The rainfall [average annual: c. 1 iin.] is erratic, variation 27.21-4.3in.).
In spite of such uncertainties of climate, and of its remoteness, Alice Springs is destined to become the centre of an extensive pastoral area, and the mineral resources (gold, mica, etc.) of the region are probably considerable.