Australia

lies at the bottom of the Earth between Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean
only nation in the world that is also a continent
7.6 mil sq km, mostly flat except for Great Dividing Range
cities separated by long distances
biggest island – Tasmania
many contrast in the landscape
- huge central desert surrounded by a semi-desert zone (Great Victoria Desert, Great Sandy Desert)
- tropical rainforests and jungle in the north
- Eucalyptus forests in southern areas (e.g. near the Australian Alps)
many different climates
- tropical in the north with two seasons (Rainy and Dry)
- days are hot, nights are cold in the desert
- the South have four seasons (mild winters, hot summers)
major rivers: the Murray and the Darling in the sout-east
highest point: Mt. Kosciuszko (2228 m)
lowest point: Lake Eyre (16 m below sea level)

flag
- flag is blue and includes the flag of the UK, the Southern Cross constellation (five stars) and a large seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star (which represents the federation of colonies of Australia)

head of government: Prime Minister Kevin Michael Rudd
head of state: Queen of the UK (Governor General)
legislature: Parliament of two houses: Senate and House of Representatives
political subdivisions: Six states and two territories (Western Australia, Southern Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania; Northern Territory, Capital Territory)

currency: Australian dollar
agriculture: sheep, cattle, wheat, wool, milk
manufacturing: processed food and beverages, iron and steel, chemicals, textiles
mining: coal, oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, lead, zinc
Australian sheep grow on quarter of all wool in the world, some sheep farms (called stations) are bigger than the smallest of European countries

Australia was discovered by Dutch (maybe also Portuguese) navigators (17th century)
the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman discovered Tasmania in 1642, early name of Australia was „New Holland„
british captain James Cook explored the eastern coast in 1770 and at the Botany Bay, he named this new land „New South Wales“
captain Arthrur Philip brought the first settlers (mainly from England)
Australia was originally a penal colony
the discovery of gold in the middle of the 19th century attracted many immigrants, population increased rapidly, six separate colonies were founded
1901 – Commonwealth of Australia

ANZAC – Australian and New Zealand Army troops (volunteers)
- April 25, Anzac Day
- 1915 – 8000 ANZACs died near ancient city of Troy (Gallipoli Peninsula)

Sydney – Australian largest city, 60 km of beaches, famous Sydney Opera House (looks like waves breaking on the shore), Summer Olympics in 2000
Canberra – capital city in Capital Territory since 1927, the Australian War Memorial
Melbourne – nation’s financial and commercial centre, Royal Botanic Garden
Tasmania – Island state off the southeastern coast, more than one-fifth covered by national parks, Tasmanian devil (named after sound he makes)
Great Barrier Reef – World’s longest coral reef (2000 km), rich marine life
Ayers Rock – huge sandstone, 348 m above desert floor, area of 3.3 sq km

original Australian people are called the Aborigines
- many tribes (small groups on large territory)
- 200 languages, up to 1.5 mil. people in the past, 600 tribes
- no-return boomerang for hunting and war
- didgerido – musical instrument