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DISASTERS 1
These are pictures taken from the
exhibition of natural disasters in
Australia at the National Library.
Pictures by JIM GREEN.
Cyclone
Hurricane
Typhoon
Tropical cyclones are the most dan-
gerous, most deadly storms on earth.
Known elsewhere as hurricanes or
typhoons they can claim the lives of
thousands; can cause damage costing
millions of dollars.
The winds in a cyclone whirl
clockwise around a calm "eye" to qualify
as a cyclone the winds must reach or
exceed 63 km/h, but at their most
destructive the gusts can exceed 200
km/h.
In Australia the main target of
cyclones is the tropical coastline between
November and April, but cyclones can
strike at other times and in other areas.
The most destructive cyclone to hit
Australia was Cyclone Tracy which hit
Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974, killing
48 people.
A web of destruction in the north: The map traces the paths taken by tropical cyclones in January, February and March in the years 1910-69 in the north east, and 1930-69 in the north-west. Help
A web of destruction in the north: The map traces the paths taken by tropical
cyclones in January, February and March in the years 1910-69 in the north-
east, and 1930-69 in the north-west.
A dog is trapped by rising floodwaters. Help
A dog is trapped by rising floodwaters.
A graphic illustration of the hardship which follows disaster — after Cyclone Tracy, a Darwin man wheels a few necessities past a shattered house. Help
A graphic illustration of the hardship which
follows disaster — after Cyclone Tracy, a
Darwin man wheels a few necessities past a
shattered house.
An air view of the devastation caused by Cyclone Tracy. Forty-eight people died when the cyclone flattened Darwin on Christmas Eve, 1974. Help
An air view of the devastation caused by Cyclone Tracy.
Forty-eight people died when the cyclone flattened
Darwin on Christmas Eve, 1974.
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