Australia Facts: A Quick Guide to the Land Down Under
One of the most interesting Australia facts is that it is the only nation in the world that is also a continent. Set in the southern hemisphere between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, Australia is one of the largest nations in the world when it comes to land size. When it comes to population, however, Australia is not even in the top ten, with a population of approximately 20 million.
Australia Facts – The Basics
When it comes to land mass, Australia is number 6 on the world’s list of largest countries (behind Russia, Canada, China, the United States and Brazil). The biggest and most well-known cities in Australia are Sydney and Melbourne. The capital of Australia is Canberra.
Australia is both the smallest and flattest continent, with a land area that is just smaller than the United States.
The Country of Australia is divided into 6 states and 2 territories. The states are Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales (home to the Capital City of Canberra), Tasmania and Victoria, which is the southernmost city in Australia. Western Australia is the largest of Australia’s states. The territories are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
Since Australia is so large, it has a variety of climate zones, just like we do here in North America. Some places are hot and arid, while others are cooler and more humid. The seasons and corresponding weather in Australia are the opposite of what we have in the United States. When it is summer in America, it is winter in Australia. And winter in the U.S. means summertime down under, so Australians can only dream of a white Christmas.
English is the national language in Australia, but they speak English with a distinctive accent that is quite different from anything heard in the U.S. There are also different English accents found within the country, just like in the different geographical areas of America.
The government of Australia is a democracy. Their economy is strong and stable, and most Australians enjoy a high standard of living.
Australia Facts – The Unusual
Australia is home to many unusual creatures that are not found anyplace else in the world. These include the platypus, kangaroo, emu, koala bear, bandicoot, bilby, dingo, fairy penguin, wombat, wallaby and Tasmanian devil just to name a few.
Australia is also home to the Great Barrier Reef, which is the largest coral reef system in the world. The Great Barrier Reef covers an area of over 130,000 square miles just off the east coast of Australia. It is made up of nearly 3,000 individual reefs and approximately 900 different islands. The Great Barrier Reef is so huge, it can be seen from space.