With temperatures reaching 50°C (122°F), Pat Farmer crossed the Simpson Desert, Australia in a 379 km (234.5 miles) traverse in 3 days 8 hr 36 min finishing on 26 January 1998 (Australia Day), which calculates at an average of 4.75 km/h (2.95 mph). Crossing a total 1,162 dunes, he reached heights up to 40 m (131 ft). The Simpson Desert is the world's largest sand dune desert, of 170,000 km² (the size of England Wales combined). It is situated mainly in the Northern Territory, with parts in South Australia and Queensland. The run starts at Alka Seltzer Bore and follows the French Line for 217 km (134 miles) to Poepple Corner, then continues along the QAA Line for 162 km (100.5 miles) to the finish in Birdsville (Queensland).