AUSTRALIA

As of 2015, Australia has an estimated population of over 22 million people. Australia is the world's 6th largest country by area. The largest cities in Australia are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. A desert area known as the ‘outback’ covers much of the land. The name ‘Australia’ comes from the Latin word ‘australis’, meaning southern. It is estimated the humans have lived in Australia for around 45000 years. The indigenous people of Australia are Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. The highest mountain on mainland Australia is Mt Kosciuszko, standing 2228m (7310ft) above sea level. The world's largest reef, the Great Barrier Reef, is found off the north-eastern coast of Australia. Australia has a range of different landscapes, including urban areas, mountain ranges, deserts and rain forests. Australia is home to a variety of unique animals, including the koala, kangaroo, emu, kookaburra and platypus. Although they usually keep to themselves, there are a range of dangerous snakes in Australia, such as the Brown Snake, Tiger Snake and Taipan. Australia hosted the 1956 (Melbourne) and 2000 (Sydney) Summer Olympics.

Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere. LOCATION Because it is south of the equator, the seasons in Australia are the opposite of those in Europe: it’s winter in Australia when it’s summer in Europe. Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere.

- It’s the 6th biggest country in the world. - It’s an island, surrounded by water. - It’s the smallest continent in the world.

Australia is composed of 7 territories: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria + Tasmania, and Papua New Guinea.

HISTORY James Cook discovered Australia in 1770. Britain sent prisoners and criminals to Australia. Europeans sold the land of Aborigines and killed thousands of them.

Native Australians. The Aborigines have lived in Australia for over 40,000 years. Now they only represent 1% of the population. The total population of Australia is 22 million.

The capital city is Canberra. CITIES The biggest city is Sydney, where there is the famous Sydney Opera House. The capital city is Canberra.

OTHER IMPORTANT CITIES Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth

Where are the majority of important cities in Australia?

GEOGRAPHY Uluru (Ayers Rock) is the world’s largest monolith. It is sacred for Aborigines. It is very popular with tourists because of its beautiful colours.

THE AUSTRALIAN FLAG Southern cross symbolizes the constellation. Union Flag 6th British colony. The Commonwealth 7 pointed star represents the 7 territories.

The currency is the Australian dollar.

In Australia it is usually very warm, so Australians love sport and other outdoor activities. The most popular are: scuba-diving cricket surfing swimming

TYPICAL ANIMALS Koala Kangaroo

Dingo Sugar glider Platypus

Tasmanian devil Wombat Possum

Australia has also some very poisonous snakes and spiders Australia has also some very poisonous snakes and spiders. At school children have to learn first aid for snake and spider bites.

SOME AUSTRALIAN SYMBOLS

An Aborigine

Sydney Opera House built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon

Bondi Beach, Sydney

Other names for Australia Oz Down Under

Ayers Rock or Uluru

A didgeridoo

A boomerang

Kangaroos in the Outback

The Great Barrier Reef

Nicole Kidman, actress

Kylie Minogue, singer

AC/DC, music band

Elle Macherson, model

Hugh Jackman, actor