Area: 7,7 million km2.
Population: 19.2 million (2000).
Official language: English. Kangaroo Australia 1
Capital: Canberra (311 thousand inhabitants, 1999).
National holiday: Australia Day (26 January).
Currency: Australian dollar.
UN member since 1945, APEC, SPF.
The country is located on mainland Australia between the Indian and Pacific oceans and on numerous islands. In addition, the Australian Antarctic Territory belongs to the (Gaza Anta Coast Surfing – 6,1 million sq. km). Nearest neighbors – Papua – New Guinea and Indonesia to the north, New Caledonia – in the east, New Zealand – the south-east, and Antarctica – in the south. Australian continent stretches 3,180 km from north to south and 4 thousand miles – from west to east. On the area’s smallest continent, but among the countries – to 6-th place in the world.
Australia – a country with a very heavy air (internal and external) : 262 out of 400 airports have runways paved (11 airports – world-class). Largest airport is located in Sydney. Nation’s largest air carrier – Kvontas.
Approximately 50 million years ago the Australian continent separated from the great mass of the earth – Gondwana (comprising more South America, Africa, India and Antarctica). Since then, with the exception of the Ice Age when the sea level was 100 m lower than now, Australia existed in isolation. It is believed that the indigenous inhabitants of the country is located Aborigines migrated to Australia from Asia, 40 is located 50 thousand years ago (possibly still existed between the land bridge). Some recent discoveries in Western Australia suggest a much earlier habitat on the mainland Aborigines. Before the arrival of Europeans, Aborigines used stone tools and hunting, fishing and gathering. Approximate their number reached 750 thousand people. They were divided into 31 seed, used some 500 languages, had a complex social and religious culture. Famous songs, legends and Aboriginal art painted on the stone.
Australia is the sparsely populated continent (2.5 people per 1 sq. km). Most of the population is concentrated in urban areas (over 85%, including about 60% – 5 million people). In this case, about 70% of the population lives in their own homes. Australia is a country of immigrants. About 4 million people were born abroad, even at the 3.8 million Australians, one or both parents born outside Australia. The bulk of the population – the descendants of immigrants from Britain and Ireland, as well as from Europe – about 90% (including about 200 thousand people are immigrants from the former Soviet Union). In the last two or three decades after the country abandoned the policy of “White Australia”, the share of Asian immigration (Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.). More than 5% of the Australian population were born in Asia, and the total percentage of people of Asian descent – 7%. Indigenous – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island – approximately 400 thousand people (2,1% of the population). Declined sharply after European immigration to the continent, Aboriginal people recover and grow faster pace. In recent years, the Australian Government initiated a process of “reconciliation” with the natives, trying to resolve the acute problems of their existence a number of European civilization, the injustices committed against them in the past, maintain their original culture. However, this process very difficult. Aborigines is far more difficult than, say, the New Zealand Maori fit into European civilization. Official English is the language of international communication, but more than 2.5 million homes do not speak English, and Italian, Greek, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, etc. Just run 282 languages, including 170 native. Cultural life of the country’s rich and diverse. Develop literature, art, musical art. Fairly well known in the world of Australian ballet and cinema. For several decades a policy of “multiculturalism”, ie, maintain and develop the culture of all peoples that make up Australian society. The combination of cuisines of various nations made the restaurant business of the country one of its major attractions. Sustained popularity in the world market have acquired and Australian wines. For Australians generally characterized by the ability to relax. The favorable climate, tradition, carried settlers from the British Isles, determine the popularity of sports (rugby, tennis, cricket). Australians have on these types were outstanding athletes and the national team more than once occupied the top places. Popular as football, baseball, golf, racing yachts, windsurfing, horseback riding, athletics, basketball, etc. The outstanding successes regularly seek Australian swimmers. Becoming more popular and other active leisure activities, especially tourism.
The climate of coastal areas is soft, more humid and warm. This area holds much of the population and economic potential of the country, including the major cities – Sydney and Melbourne. On the coast of the continent are all the major cities of the country (except the capital).
Canberra is a special administrative unit – Australian Capital Territory. It is a city of federal officials, education and science, specifically built to perform functions of the capital. Here are the main agencies of the federal government (translated from Melbourne in 1927), the largest educational and scientific institutions is located Australian National University, the Organization of Scientific and Industrial Research of Australia (CSIRO) and other agencies.
Among the “capital” of Australia’s largest cities – Sydney (4 million inhabitants), capital of New South Wales, one of the leading financial centers in Asia-Pacific region, is famous for its harbor and its distinguishing marks – Harbour Bridge (built in 1932) and the Opera House. Sydney is the venue for the 2000 Olympic Games. It was a constant contender for the right to be called the economic capital of the country – Melbourne (3.4 million) – the main town of the state of Victoria, is famous were passing in 1956 Olympic Games. Still retains the influence of the British, including the park, architecture, famous for its restaurants. It especially felt the influence of immigrants from Southern Europe – the Italians and Greeks. The city is the location of the major sports (tennis, rugby, equestrian) events. Brisbane (1.6 million) – the capital and largest city of the “solar” Queensland, not far from it there is a resort mecca of East Coast – Gold Coast. The main town in Western Australia – Perth (1,16 million) – an ultramodern, the growing financial and economic center in the west. Cozy capital of South Australia – Adelaide (1.1 million) is a major industrial, scientific and educational center for this part of the country. The state capital, the island of Tasmania – Hobart (195 thousand inhabitants), which has preserved many specimens of colonial architecture of the first half of the nineteenth century. A small but growing city Darwin (about 90 thousand inhabitants) – the capital of the Northern Territory, differs significantly in its tropical color and a marked preponderance of the aboriginal population.
Tourism became a vital sector of the economy and became an integral part of the life of Australians. Tourists are attracted by Australia’s brightest natural attractions is located the Great Barrier Reef, a huge rock formations in the center of the continent – Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Mount Olga, many national parks, the beaches of Gold Coast, etc. Flora and fauna of Australia because of its isolation from other continents, diverse and distinctive. There are over 500 species of eucalyptus trees, including gigantic is located up to 90 is located 100 m, and over 600 species of acacia trees. Subtropical forests of the east and southeast are in tiers, intertwined vines and impassable, composed mainly of eucalyptus, tree ferns and horsetails.
Australia has enormous potential for ecotourism development (“green” tourism), more and more popular in the world.
Australia is the oldest on the geological age of the continent, and therefore very low, flat and dry out manned. If in Europe and North America landscapes formed “only ” 20 thousand years ago, the landscape of Australian continent – from several million to hundreds and even thousands of millions of years. This is a huge plateau, concave in the center and framed by raised rims.
Australia is an independent state, part of the Commonwealth. The British Parliament July 9, 1900 adopted the statement on the establishment of the Australian, the Union. Head of state is located formally Queen (wearing in the country the title of Queen of Australia), presented to the Governor-General, who was appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia for 5 years (in addition, each state is the Queen of the Governor of the State). The legislature is located is elected by universal compulsory (for non-participation is located a fine) by a vote bicameral Federal Parliament consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives. Won the election to the House of Representatives majority party (or coalition of parties) forms the government and its leader becomes prime minister is located the chief executive. Australia is a federal state.
Registered about 92 religious beliefs. Dominated by Christians (over 70% of the total population), including Roman Catholics is 27%, Anglicans and members of other Protestant religions is to 22%.
In the deserts and arid areas – thick, almost impenetrable thickets of shrubs (skreb). In the area of higher humidity prevalent evergreen rainforests of the most powerful of tall trees – eucalyptus trees (over 500 species), ficus, palms, pandanus, etc. The fauna of the country is also specific. Most famous egg-laying – the platypus and echidna. Most mammals belong to the marsupial (about 120 species): kangaroo, martens, squirrels, a tiny desert mouse, etc. Dressing fauna of the country is a marsupial koala bear. Are found wombat, dingo wild dog, and numerous species of lizards, snakes, crocodiles, river and sea turtles. Diverse world of birds: 700 species, about 500 are endemic-governmental. The most famous-Emu (flightless), Kookaburra, parrots, cockatoos, birds of paradise, cassowary, black swans, etc. All of Australia lies in the Southern Hemisphere and has seasons opposite North. The coldest month and July, the warmest – January and February. In most parts of the continent arid or semi-arid climate – up to 80% of the falls is less than 600 mm of rainfall annually, 50% – less than 300 mm. Frequent droughts, which are accompanied by extensive fires. Do not bypass the continent side, and tropical cyclones, storms and hurricanes.