Australia Map

History of Australia : 
Before the arrival of European settlers, the aborigines of Australia and the Torres Strait Islanders inhabited parts of the Australian continent. Asian and Oceanic mariners and traders were in contact with these indigenous Australians for many centuries before the European expansion into the Eastern Hemisphere in the early seventeenth century.The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 through the federation of six states under a single constitution.

Today, over 200 indigenous languages are spoken, but English is the common language. The nation has thriving ethnic media, an international business reputation, an innovative artistic community, diverse religious and cultural activities and variety in foods, restaurants, fashion and architecture.

Geography : 
Australia takes up the entirety of the world's smallest continent or the world's largest island, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on its eastern coast and the Indian Ocean on its west. Australia is a vast country, ranking sixth on the list of largest countries in the world. The majority of Australia is the arid desert known as the outback, but other climates in Australia are found around the coast, including tropical rainforests, grasslands, and temperate coastlines. Off the northeast coast of Australia, under the waters of the Pacific Ocean is the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef in the world, which hosts a variety of sea life. Though Australia is the flattest continent, there are mountain ranges, including Mount Augustus, the world's largest monolith.

Polities : 
Australia is divided into six large states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia; and two territories: the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. The western third of the country is called Western Australia, the middle third is divided into the Northern Territory and South Australia, and the eastern third contains Queensland in the north, New South Wales below it, and Victoria at the south. The sixth state, Tasmania, is the large island directly below Victoria in eastern Australia.

Australia Travel : 
Tourism is one of Australia's largest industries because of its beautiful landscapes and vibrant culture. As a large country, the terrain of Australia varies from region to region, but much of inner Australia is the vast and undeveloped outback, the arid desert where the famous Uluru (Ayers Rock) is found. The coastal regions of Australia feature pristine beaches like Bondi Beach, or tropical rainforests. Australia is also known for its unique indigenous species, not often found in much of the rest of the world, including koalas and kangaroos.

The rich culture of the native Australians, known as aborigines, can be seen throughout the country, and experienced at art galleries and cultural centers, where visitors can learn about the history, religion, languages and traditions of the Aboriginal Australians.

Australia's largest cities include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Australia is frequently visited by tourists from the United States, Japan, China, South Korea, and New Zealand.

Australia is the word's smallest continent and the world's sixth-largest country. Australia covers an area of 7,686,900 square kilometers.

Australia Demographics
Ethnicity : Australia's culturally diverse society includes its indigenous peoples and settlers from countries all around the world. Australia's population has quadrupled since the end of World War I, much of the increase stemming from immigration. Since 1945, over six million people from 200 countries have come to Australia as new settlers. People born overseas make up almost one quarter of the total population. By 2050, Australia's population is currently projected to reach around 42 million.

Language : Although Australia has no official language, English is so entrenched that it has become the de facto national language. In 1788, there were about 250 separate aboriginal languages spoken in Australia, plus dialects. Today, only two-thirds of these languages survive and only 20 of them are still strong enough to have chance of surviving well into the next century. In addition to these there are also the languages of immigrants from Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Religion : Although Australia is considered a Christian country, there are a variety of religions that can be found here. The other religions practiced in Australia are Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism.

Economy of Australia : 
Ranked third in the Index of Economic Freedom (2010), Australia is the world's thirteenth-largest economy and has the ninth-highest per capita GDP. The country was ranked second in the United Nations 2010 Human Development Index and first in Legatum's 2008 Prosperity Index.

Tourism is one of Australia's largest and fastest-growing industries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, particularly wheat and wool, minerals such as iron-ore and gold, and energy in the forms of liquefied natural gas and coal. Although agriculture and natural resources account for only 3 per cent and 5 per cent of GDP respectively, they contribute substantially to export performance. Australia's largest export markets are Japan, China, the US, South Korea, and New Zealand. Australia is the world's fourth-largest exporter of wine, in an industry contributing $5.5 billion per annum to the nation's economy.


Australia Trivia

• Australia was originally called New South Wales.
• The most popular sports in Australia are Australian Rules Football, rugby league and soccer.
• Australia is the only nation to occupy an entire continent.
• Australia's 85.7 million sheep (mostly merinos) produce most of the world's wool.
• With 25.4 million head of cattle, Australia is also the world's largest exporter of beef.

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Last Update On : April 22, 2013