With 359,000 sq. miles (.535) of her territory north of the tropic of Capricorn, Queensland has a warm to hot climate —a mean ann. temp. of over 70° F everywhere in the south-east. Temperatures naturally increase northwards and north-westwards, while the range of temperature increases inland. Thus, in the south, the coastal parts have ay. ann. temps. of
F, the interior
F, northern coastal 88°-58°, northern interior
F. Frosts, though not universally common, are liable to occur during 5-7 months or more in the south-east and during decreasing periods further west and north-west. The rainfall, which tends to show a summer max. increasingly towards the north and the interior, varies between wide limits both in average and in annual amounts. Most of it comes from the ocean lying to the east and north-east and the seaward parts of the Atherton Plateau are the wettest in Australia, having an average fall of 144-165 in. with not uncommon falls of 200 in. and over, and at various other parts along the east and north-east (Cape York Peninsula; Mackay, and in the extreme south-east) averages of 6o-7o in. are found. The whole of Cape York Peninsula and most of the eastern highland fringes and river-basins average 3o in., but inland the amounts rapidly fall off to less than Io in.
in the south-west (Birdsville: 6.4 in.). The fall is also mostly unreliable, very heavy falls alternating with relative scarcity. Thus over the inland and Gulf portions of the State (534,68o sq. miles), while the mean ann. fall is 19.9 in., the actual yearly averages varied (1888-1913 : 26 yr.) from 9 in. to 33.3 in., and even the coastal areas (135,820 sq. miles), with a mean ann. fall of 52.3 in. ranged during the same period from 26.85 to 73•4 in. (Cf. Harvey Creek : 254.8 in.-80.5 in.) The effect of these condi tions upon river flow, vegetation, and economic conditions in general is such that special precautions and provisions are nec essary to secure stability. Along the lowlands of the coast the heat is humid and, to those unaccustomed to it, uncomfortable. The interior, though often hot and trying—Boulia has had as many as 76 consecutive days with shade temperatures over oo° F— is not unhealthy. From Dec.–April (mainly) the coastal parts are liable to hurricanes—an average of one or two a year. They come mainly from the east, but sometimes from inland, and may work considerable destruction. (For further climatic details see