Wildest Places: Australia

Australia was the last continent to form. Though completely surrounded by water, the center is consumed by vast tracts of dry, infertile land. Extreme climate and isolation has shaped amazing evolutionary adaptations and created its own rules of nature.

The wetlands and rainforests of Australia are ecosystems that hold links to the continent’s ancient past. These places are extremely diverse. Lush green ranges in remote southern isles allow life forms to flourish unhindered.

The vegetated areas of the smallest continent are uniquely Australian. It’s estimated almost a fifth of Australia is covered in dry forest. The dry forests, colloquially deemed "the bush", is concentrated mostly along the east coast.

As a freestanding continent, Australia is surrounded by two major oceans and five seas. There are 22,000 miles of coastline on the mainland alone. These are the magical boundaries where elements meet.