Red Dust Flies in Australia

Two red-colored dust storms hit parts of Australia at the end of last month.

On Sept. 23, red dust blew into Sydney, Australia’s largest city. The dust was so bad that flights were DIVERTED from the airport, landmarks were not visible, and many residents wore masks to avoid breathing the dusty air. Some residents compared the experience to living on Mars—or at least what they imagine the red planet to be like! Several scientists said this was the worst dust storm since the 1940s.

The dust eventually blew out to sea and up the coast, clearing the skies in Sydney. However, a few days later, another storm hit the coastal area. The second storm was not as severe and also settled down as it blew out to sea.

Dust storms are common in parts of Australia, but the storms rarely reach the coastal areas of the country, like Sydney. By far, the largest part of Australia is desert, an area often called the “outback.” This is why most people live along the eastern and southeastern coasts—in cities like Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra, and Brisbane—where the weather is more welcoming. The “Fremantle Doctor” is a sea breeze that affects the city of Perth. It is one of the most consistent winds in the world!

Australia is home to about 22 million people. Although English is spoken, Australians have their own distinct accent and vocabulary. Slightly smaller than the contiguous 48 states in the United States, Australia is the world’s smallest continent but sixth-largest country. It’s also the flattest of the seven continents.

Australia is also home to some unique critters, including koalas, kangaroos, platypuses, and the Tasmanian devil. Australia is well known for the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef. It extends for over 1,240 miles and attracts visitors from all over the world!

If you’re planning a visit, you will be landing at one of the country’s 464 airports—139 of which have unpaved runways.