The Great Artesian Basin is Australia's largest freshwater resource. The basin underlies portions of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territories. It is the only reliable water source in the area. Furthermore, although it is expensive to operate, the management and positive aspects outweigh the consequences of the basin. There are so many positive effects just from this piece of land, be they environmental, social or economic benefits. The basin is an important aspect of modern Australia. Australia's primary focus on the basin is to provide people within the basin with an easy natural supply of water. Finding water without the basin would be a very difficult task as before the basin was discovered. If only people could have known there was water beneath them in Australia's troubled days. When water was discovered underground, Australia's natural spring systems became precious to many people. Water travels at an extremely slow speed through porous rock deep underground. Sometimes the water boils and makes its way to the surface through natural springs. However; we also dig the soil for water. The Great Artesian Basin is located in the upper right corner in Australia based on a map. Over large amounts of years, as ice ages and as tectonic plates move, they cause the ocean to rise and fall. As ocean levels rose, water became trapped where land once was. The effect of the water trapped inside caused an ocean to form. When ocean levels dropped, the area became dry land again. The water became trapped between the sandstone and an impervious layer of rock. To reach the surface, water must pass through the sandstone rock. The Great Artesian Basin has been… middle of paper… the facts listed make the most sense for all the positive effects you get from this area are too valuable to let costs interfere. Australia has been fortunate to have access to an amazing local and natural water source. The reservoir must be a good thing because it is the only reliable water source. Without any thought we can use this basin as a positive aspect for the Australian community. Australians have access to this natural water source by paying only the cost of construction. The great artesian basin is no less amazing but also one of the greatest natural resources on Earth. The basin has many uses not only for water, but the geological and hydrological perspective is pristine for knowledge of the basin. The great artesian basin is a complex aquifer with a great history behind it.