Australia: Geography and Climate

Geography and Climate

• Located in the Southern Hemisphere, southeast of Asia
• World's sixth-largest country by total area
• Comprises six states (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania) and two territories (Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory)
• Coastline stretches for over 25,000 km
• Diverse climate, ranging from tropical in the north to temperate in the south and desert in the center

History

• Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples inhabited the continent for at least 65,000 years before European settlement
• Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon landed in Cape York Peninsula in 1606, marking the first European discovery
• British established the first penal colony in 1788, leading to the displacement and marginalization of indigenous populations
• Gold rushes and immigration in the mid-19th century drove population growth and economic development
• Australia gained independence from the UK in 1901, becoming a federal state

Economy

• Strong service-based economy, with a high GDP per capita
• Major industries include mining, agriculture, and tourism
• Trade relationships with China, the US, Japan, and South Korea are significant
• Member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the G20

Culture

• Multicultural society, with over 30% of the population born overseas
• Strong cultural influences from British, Irish, and Asian immigration
• Vibrant arts scene, with renowned institutions like the Sydney Opera House and the National Gallery of Australia
• Popular sports include cricket, rugby, and Australian Rules football

Demographics

• Population of approximately 25 million people
• Highest population densities in the eastern states, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne
• Average life expectancy is over 82 years, one of the highest in the world
• Indigenous Australians make up around 3% of the population

Geography and Climate

• Located in the Southern Hemisphere, southeast of Asia
• World's sixth-largest country by total area
• Comprises six states and two territories
• Coastline stretches for over 25,000 km
• Tropical climate in the north, temperate in the south, and desert in the center

History

• Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples inhabited the continent for at least 65,000 years
• First European discovery by Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon in 1606
• British established the first penal colony in 1788, leading to indigenous displacement and marginalization
• Gold rushes and immigration in the mid-19th century drove population growth and economic development
• Australia gained independence from the UK in 1901, becoming a federal state

Economy

• Strong service-based economy with high GDP per capita
• Major industries: mining, agriculture, and tourism
• Significant trade relationships with China, the US, Japan, and South Korea
• Member of APEC and the G20

Culture

• Multicultural society with over 30% of the population born overseas
• Strong cultural influences from British, Irish, and Asian immigration
• Vibrant arts scene with renowned institutions like the Sydney Opera House and the National Gallery of Australia
• Popular sports: cricket, rugby, and Australian Rules football

Demographics

• Population of approximately 25 million people
• Highest population densities in the eastern states, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne
• Average life expectancy: over 82 years, one of the highest in the world
• Indigenous Australians make up around 3% of the population