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Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It lies in the Southern Hemisphere between 11 ^ 0 and 44 ^ 0 south latitude and 113 ^ 0 and 154 ^ 0 east longitude. The entire area of land is about the same size as the continental United States, or about one and a half times the size of Europe. The mainland of Australia has an area of 2, 967, 909 square miles. The country is divided into six states: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia. The geological activity that created the country's mountains, plains, and rivers ceased millions of years ago.
Earthquakes are very rare and the last volcanic eruption occurred more than 5, 000 years ago. The highest mountain in Australia, Mount Kosciusko, is only 7, 310 feet above sea level. Climate Australia experiences a wide variety of climates. In the north, the continent's immense interior gives way to hot, wet monsoonal tropical regions. The southeast coast, where most of Australia's population lives, is cooler and drier. The southwest is very hot and dry in the summer, but milder and wetter in the winter.
The climate is very similar to the Mediterranean countries of Europe, or to California. Summer temperatures in Australia can soar over 104 ^ 0, but the costal regions are cooler due to offshore breezes. Because of the heat and lack of rain, bushfires rage through the tinder-dry landscape, destroying half a million acres of forest and grassland every year. The hot temperatures of the inland coupled with the lack of rain mean that 70 % of Australia receives less than 20 inches of rain a year, making it the world's driest continent. Farming is difficult in these areas, but not impossible, thanks to artesian water and the construction of many irrigation schemes.
People The first inhabitants were people belonging to the Australoid group, who probably originated from Southeast Asia. These people traveled to the Australian continent about 40, 000 years ago. A short while later, Aborigines landed in canoes and rafts on the north coast of Australia and then moved southward across the rest of the continent. Aborigines were nomads living in family clans, each with its own territory where it could camp, hunt, and fish. The Aborigines brought two useful items from their original homeland: the dingo and the boomerang.
As for Australia today, the population is around 19, 169, 083. The majority of these people are of Caucasian descent, although there are many other ethnic groups. There is no dominant religion in Australia. As of July 2002, 26. 1 % are Anglican, 26 % are Roman Catholic, 24. 3 % are another Christian religion, and 11 % are non-Christian. The most used language of Australia is English, however, there are a variety of other native languages that are still used today. Government Australia's form of government has been described as a constitutional monarchy, in which the queen of England is the nominal head of state.
In the federal government, power rests with the elected political party that holds the majority in the House of Representatives. The leader is the prime minister. The Senate consists of 76 members who are elected every six years. The House of Representatives has 147 members and they face elections every three years.
Any laws that involve changes to the Constitution must be decided by a referendum in which the country's citizens are called to vote on whether or not they want such changes to take place. In the regional government, each of Australia's states is administered by a parliament, which consists of a legislative council, and a legislative assembly. The premier is the leader of the political party dominating the legislative assembly. Each state runs its own schools and hospitals, administers its own laws, and has its own police force. Cities and shires are governed by local councils headed by a mayor. Their responsibilities include town planning, waste management, and road construction.
Points of Interest There are many points of interest in Australia. Sydney -- - In the city of Sydney, you can visit the Sydney Harbor. Its multiple sandstone headlands, dramatic cliffs, rocky islands and stunning bays and beaches, make it one of the most beautiful stretches of water in the world. You can also visit a place called "The Rocks." The Rocks is a historical tourist precinct, full of cobbled streets, colonial buildings and stuffed koalas. Some attractions include the weekend market, the Earth Exchange, geological and mining museum, and numerous craft shops and art galleries. You can visit Bondi Beach, which is the grand dame of Sydney's beaches with a magnificent sweep of sand and a never-ending series of majestic rollers crashing into the shallows.
IN the suburb of Bondi Beach you can enjoy ice cream parlors, designer cafes, fish and chip joints, kosher shops, and surf fashion stores. Adelaide -- - In Adelaide you can visit the South Australian Museum. This museum, which has a huge whale skeleton in the front window, is one of Adelaide's landmarks. Although it's primarily a natural history museum, with the usual array of stuffed, glassy-eyed critters, it also has a good collection of Aboriginal artifacts, including an Aboriginal Dreamtime exhibition. You " ll find the museum on North Terrace. Brisbane -- - The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is one of the most interesting places in Brisbane.
The sanctuary is set in attractive parklands beside the river and is home to a wide variety of Australian wildlife, including kangaroos, possums, wombats, emus and lyrebirds. The star attractions are the 130 or so koalas. They " re undeniably cute and most visitors readily cough up the cash to have their picture taken hugging one. Melbourne -- - In the Inner City Haunts, you will have a marvelous time.
The inner suburbs of Carlton, Fitzroy and Richmond are all recommended for their architecture, restaurants and atmosphere. Carlton is the Italian center, full of pasta & spaghetti bars, muscle cars and slick Italian clothing stores. Victoria St in Richmond is the vibrant Vietnamese center, chock full of budget restaurants, and the focus of the Lunar New Year celebrations in January-February. Fitzroy is now a magnet for the urban cool, cafe dwellers and property renovators, but was once the working-class heart of Melbourne.
Great Barrier Reef -- - One of Australia's greatest assets is the magnificent reef which runs along virtually the entire coast of Queensland. Considered one of the world's natural wonders, it is the most extensive reef system and the biggest structure made by living organisms on earth. In the north, the reef is virtually continuous and is located only 30 miles from the shore. In the south, individual reefs are more common, and in some places up to 190 miles offshore.
Hundreds of islands dot the reef area. About 20 of them have resort facilities, but it's possible to camp on many others. That is only a few of the wonderful points of interest in Australia. There are many more exciting and spectacular things to see! Recreation There are endless sporting opportunities. You can join an annual City to Surf fun run, contemplate the Minolta Australian Ironman Triathlon, or just surf, swim, kick a ball, try indoor rock climbing or swing a golf club.
Australia's 36, 735 -kilometer coastline, bordering two oceans and four seas, is basically one big, long beach. Punctuated by spectacular cliffs, headlands, inlets, rivers and waterways. Activities range from swimming, diving and surfing to underwater hockey. Australia echoes to the sound of high-octane festivals: catch the Telstra Rally Australia in Perth, Honda Indy 300 on the Gold Coast or V 8 super cars roaring through Adelaide.
Thrill to the Formula One Grand Prix World Championship in Melbourne. Australia has spawned more than its share of tennis champions. The Australian Open, at Melbourne Park, is keenly watched and squash, badminton, basketball and netball also have strong followings. Balls are kicked, thrown and whacked with sticks throughout Australia. The smorgasbord of events spans Aussie Rules (Australia's own fast-scoring brand of football) and the more traditional Rugby, soccer and cricket. Not to mention golf!
Money The exchange rate of a US dollar to an Australian dollar is as follows: 1 US dollar = 1. 94 Australian dollars. Economy Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the four dominant West European economies. Rich in nature resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for 57 % of the value of total exports, so that a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increases exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe.
While Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990 s and during the recent financial problems in East Asia, the economy had expanded at a solid 4 % annual growth pace in the last five years. Growth in 2002 will depend on key international commodity prices, the extent of recovery in nearby Asian economies, and the strength of US and European markets.
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