The Simpson Desert

There are five main deserts in Australia, Great Victorian Desert, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Tanami Desert, and Simpson Desert. Among them, I chose Simpson Desert as the topic because I was fascinated by its red color. Due to its color, it has a nickname, ‘The Big Red’. As I wrote in the first post, I’m dreaming of going on a trip to desert in Australia. I want to fight against the adversity and make unforgettable memories.

Traveling the desert is like a real struggle for existence, which means, a thorough preparation and background knowledge are required. Immense levels of heat can threaten you to be exhausted and your vehicle to be broken down. Surprisingly, also a rain can be a threat to you when you are at a desert. Once the rainy season begins, rain pours down, and can swallow up whole the camping sites and the cars, because there is no river to absorb the water. Moreover, the sand turns into a mud and your car can be stuck in it.

At all the great inconvenience, it is truly worth exploring the Simpson Desert, because it possesses marvels of nature.

One of those is the salt lake. It is hidden somewhere in-between the sand hills and reveals the surprising fact that the desert was once covered with sea water. In addition, the unique white salt shattered in the sand creates a mysterious atmosphere.

Other things that you will marvel at are the animals and plants sustaining their lives in a barren desert. Eucalyptus has thick bark that can resist damage from fire that it shows off its green color all year around. In addition to the plants, desert is also home to tree frogs, kangaroos, marsupial moles, zebra finches, and wrens. I was truly shocked that more than 150 species of animals and birds inhabit the Simpson Desert.

In addition to the special features of the Simpson Desert such as distinctive salt lakes, animals, and plants, the desert is beautiful just as it is. The endless stream of red dunes make up an elegant drape, and symmetric lines are regarded as wonders of nature. Actually, desert is nothing more than a continuous set of sand, but the shape of it is ever-changing and colorful.

There is an old saying that there are two kinds of people, one who spent a night in a desert, and the other who didn’t. I often imagine the night at the Simpson Desert. My tent would be set up firmly on the sand, and next to it, there will be a campfire. I will hold a small party with marsh mallows, and then, go up to the top of the car and lie down on it and look up to see the shining stars. The night sky will help me with organizing my thoughts and recharging myself to make progress toward my goal.