Adelaide Hills form a backdrop to the city of Adelaide in South Australia and are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges. They attain their greatest elevation at 2,385-foot (727-meter) Mount Lofty, 7 miles (11 kilometers) east of Adelaide.
The hills are round, with fertile valleys drained by several rivers, including the Torrens and Onkaparinga. Reservoirs, built on the rivers, provide water for Adelaide. Southwesterly winds, blowing in from the sea, bring much rainfall to the western side of the hills. But the air descending the eastern side of the hills is warm and dry, and the area receives little rain.
