The continental effect also contributes to maintaining the great inland deserts of Australia. Indeed, this “desert continent” has contributions from all three major desert-creating processes. The southern high-pressure climate belt, centred on the 25° south latitude, runs across the landmass. The Gibson and Simpson deserts are mostly more than 1,000 kilometers (620 mi.) from any coastline, while the Great Dividing Range, which runs down Australia’s east coast, has a rain-shadow effect due to prevailing easterly and southeasterly winds. This is another reason why the western half of How deserts form 21 Australia, where the Great Sandy, Gibson, and Great Victoria deserts are located, is drier than the eastern.