Australia

Geography and Size

• Australia is the largest country in Oceania and the sixth largest country in the world.
• It is the smallest continental land mass, but also the world's largest island.
• The UK would fit into Australia approximately 32 times.

Population

• Australia has a population of 26 million people, with a population density of around 3 people per square meter.
• Most of the inhabitants are concentrated in or around the coastal areas of the main states/territories.
• Much of inland Australia is deserted.

States and Territories

• Australia is made up of six states: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania.
• There are two territories: Northern Territory (NT) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Capital

• Canberra is the capital of Australia, located in southeastern Australia, in ACT.
• Not Sydney, as many people mistakenly believe.

Climate

• Australia is almost 4000km from east to west and 3200km from north to south.
• The north is hot and tropical, while the south is subtropical or temperate.
• Most rainfall occurs around the coast.
• There is snow in southern Australia and Tasmania during the winter months.

Immigration and Diversity

• Nearly a quarter of the country's inhabitants were born elsewhere.
• Australia is the eighth largest immigration population in the world.
• The "Populate or Perish" slogan was used to promote immigration after World War II.
• Immigrants came from Britain, Europe, and Asia.

Language and Indigenous People

• The national language is English.
• Aboriginal Australians have their own set of languages and customs.
• There are an estimated 400,000 Aborigines (indigenous people of Australia).

Government

• Australia is a commonwealth of the UK.
• The Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a Governor-General and a Prime Minister.
• Power is divided between the federal and state governments.

Landmarks

• The Sydney Opera House was designed by a Danish architect and took 14 years to construct.
• The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the tallest steel arch bridge in the world and has over 150,000 vehicles crossing it every day.
• Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) is a massive sandstone formation situated in the Northern Territory.

Economy and Exports

• Australia is a highly developed country with a strong economy, ranking 13th in the world.
• Important exports include agricultural goods, such as wool, wheat, beef, fruit, and wine.
• The country imports major items, including petroleum, crude oils, cars, phones, computers, and medicines.

Sports and Culture

• The national sport of Australia is cricket during summer and football (Australian Football) during winter.
• Australia is famous for water sports, and many locals know how to surf.
• Uluru is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and is sacred to the Aboriginal people.