about Australia

geography

Located in the south hemisphere, between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Australia is the only country that occupies an entire continent (the smallest). With an area of 7,682,300 km2, is the sixth country for its size after Russia, Canada, China, USA and Brazil.
The highest point, Mount Kosciuszko, only 2228 m, is located in the Australian Alps between New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria.
The longest river, the Darling, born in Queensland and travels 2736 km.

General facts:
Capital: Canberra
Area (km2): 7,682,300
Currency: Australian dollar
Language (official): English
National Day: January 26 Australia Day ¨
Political Division: 6 states
Population: 20,600,000
Religion: Catholic, Anglo-Saxon Protestants, Orthodox, Muslim.
Life expectancy: Male 75.4
Females 81.1
Main cities: (8) Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Alice Springs Darhlin, Pert / Broome, Cairns Brisbane


Features

 The first settlers who arrived in Australia were the English. It is estimated at about 300,000
 It has a monarchical government, the British.
 Australia is the world's largest island. It is considered as a continent
 Australian society is one of the most urbanized of the world: almost 90 percent of the population lives in cities along the coast.
 The largest and most populous city is Sydney, which has 3.8 million inhabitants; folllowing by Melbourne with over three millions. Brisbane is the third largest city with 1.5 million
 Australian cities are extensive and their architecture consist of houses from a plant located on land a quarter-acre.

Main export products:
· Fuels, lubricants and minerals, gold, silver, iron, oil.
· Maximum producer of wool.
· Cereals, sugarcane and cotton.


Weather: warm and dry, with great contrasts. The seasons in Australia are the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere: the summer starts in December, autumn in March, winter in June and spring in September. Due to its vast size, its geographic location and lack of high ridges, Australia has a wide range of climates, but in general, are not extreme.
Temperature extremes: in the capital
10º C minimum
34º C maximum


Tourist Attractions

SYDNEY,
A bright and vibrant city built around one of the most beautiful bays in the world, with spectacular beaches near of the cosmopolitan heart.

The Sydney Opera Theater

It is a very special building at Bennelong Point, which is home to companies Australian opera, ballet and theater and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Manly
It is a resort on the sea in the far northwestern port of Sydney, has beaches in Ocean and the Port.

Darling Harbor
Is the focus of celebrations in Sydney.

Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains, called for the bluish haze created by the eucalyptus oil floating in the air above the mountain forests.

CANBERRA
Canberra is the capital of Australia. Its climate is the ideal for surfing, fishing, playing cricket, rugby and practice cycling in the many trails for bicycles. The many parks and gardens, make the national capital on a site especially beautiful in spring and autumn.


autralia’s attraction consider world heritage
1981 Lake Willandra
1981 Kakadu National Park
1981 The Great Barrier
1982 Nature Reserve Tasmania
1982 Lord Howe Island
1986 Rainforests of the central-eastern Australia
1987 National Park Uluru-Kata Tjuta
1988 Humid Tropics of Queensland
1991 Shark Bay, Western Australia
1992 Fraser Island
1994 mammal fossil sites (Riversleigh-Naracoorte)
1997 Heard and McDonald Islands
1997 Macquarie Island