Australia at Glance :
Australia is a country and continent surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. Its major cities are Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide are coastal. It’s capital, Canberra, is inland. The country is known for its Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, a vast interior desert wilderness called the Outback, and unique animal species like kangaroos which is the national animal of Australia, Emu the national bird of Australia and duck billed platypuses.
Area
7.692 ,024 km2 ( 2,969,907 sq mi)
Water (%) = 0.76
Population of Australia
One of the least overcrowded countries
2019 estimate – 25,239,200
2016 census – 23,401892
Density – 3.3/km2
Annual population growth – 1.6% in Australia
GDP – 2018 estimate
Total – $1.313 trillion
Per capita – $52,191
GDP –(nominal) 2018 estimate
Total – $1.500 trillion
Per capita $59,655
Currency – Australian Dollar (AUD)
Driving side – left
Calling code – +61
–Smallest and flattest continent
-Largest Island in the world
–6th largest country in the world
Australian Bureau of Statistics Population clock reached 25 million, with 62% of the growth in the last ten years being a result of immigration. The milestone was 33 years ahead of schedule.
Land= States and territories
| States | Capital |
| NSW – New South Wales | SYDNEY |
| VIC – Victoria | MELBOURNE |
| QLD- Queensland | BRISBANE |
| WA- Western Australia | PERTH |
| SA- South Australia | ADELAIDE |
| TAS- Tasmania | HOBART |
| Territories | Capital |
| ACT- Australian Capital Territory | CANBERRA |
| NT- Northern Territory | DARWIN |
Land
- Almost same size as the USA, excl. Alaska
- Twice the size of India
- 32 x the UK
- One of the driest country in the world
- Lowest rainfalls in the world
- Only 6% of the land is suitable for agriculture
- Central Australia – Desert, dry, red dirt
- World Heritage in Central Australia (formerly Ayers Rock)
Oceans ,Seas, sun, surf and sand
- World’s largest marine reserve network
About 40% of Australia’s waters will be protected
Home to :
- 45% out the world’s 78 whale and dolphin species
- 6 of the 7 species of marine turtle
- 4000 fish species
Bondi, cronulla, manly, barbord, garie beach, Newport, torquay, gold coast, noosa, crescent heads, Byron bay, seal rocks, Margaret river
Aussie Icons- Surfing brands
BILLABONG
RIPCURL
QUIKSILVER
Layne Beachley, from Manly (Sydney), first woman to win 7 world championships
Mark Richards, Most Influential Surfer 1963 to 2013
Aussie Icons- Reefs
- World Heritage Wonders in the
- Pacific ( Great Barrier Reef|) and
- Indian Ocean (Ningaloo Reef)
How many beaches do Australia have ?
11,000 + beaches
30,000km (18,000 miles) of Australian coastline
Climate
– 2013 was the hottest year on record in Australia, while 9 out of the past 10 years have been hotter than average
- Queensland suffered from its worst ever drought in early 2014, with 80% of that state
impacted by the drought.
Politics Commonwealth of Australia
- Form of government
- Constitutional Monarchy, Parliamentary System
Head of State
- Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)
- Represented locally by the
- Governor General
- Sir Peter Cosgrove
Head of Government
Scott John Morrison (Since 2018)
