In the 20th century, the "dingo fence" or "dog fence" was built in the southeast of the continent. It runs from the east coast near Brisbane in the state of Queensland to Ceduna in South Australia. Its height varies from 1.5 to 2.5 meters.
The fence is intended to keep dingoes, i.e. Australian wild dogs, away from sheep farms. For sheep farmers, dingoes are a real nuisance: once the wild dog has gained access to a herd, it kills several sheep at once.
Anyone who leaves the fence open is severely punished. For example, anyone who drives through the fence on a road and forgets to close the gate again must pay a fine of up to 2500 euros.
In its hundred-year history, the fence grew to a length of 8000 kilometers at times. This made it the longest structure in the world, even longer than the Great Wall of China. However, the enormous costs of maintaining the dingo fence have meant that it is now only around 5,600 kilometres long.