Australia

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Australia is an island continent situated south-east of Asia between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Australian Commonwealth occupies the whole of the continent and the island of Tasmania. The Australian continent has many different climatic zones, ranging from tropical in the north, to moderate in the south.

Australia is mostly a plain, with mountains in the east and south, which form the Eastern Highlands stretching from Cape York to Tasmania. The western part of the continent forms the Western Australian plateau, which occupies half of the continent. The Central Lowlands lie between the Western Australian plateau and the Eastern Highlands. Through these Central Lowlands run Australia’s greatest rivers the Murray and the Darling and many rivers which do not reach the sea but fall into Lake Eyre in South Australia. The Lake itself is usually a dry salt plain in hot summers. A number of short rivers flow eastwards into the Pacific Ocean.

The climate of Australia varies from warm to subtropical. Being in the southern hemisphere, Australia has summer when we in the northern hemisphere have winter, and winter when we have summer. During the summer months the north-western section of the continent has a temperature of over 26.5°C.

Australia is rich in minerals. Most factories are concentrated in or around the big cities. The most important branches of industry are metal works, motor-car and machine-building industries, and clothing and food industries. Wood-working is also important in a country with big forests where most of the houses are of wood.

To the rest of the world Australia is mainly a producer of three things: wool, wheat and gold. But besides these Australia exports minerals, meat, leather, butter, fresh and dried fruits. Most of Australia’s exports are sent to Japan, which is the biggest importer of Australian goods, especially wool, wheat and food products. The USA and the UK come next, buying wool, gold and minerals. And the main cities of Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth are the country’s main ports. Through these ports Australia imports clothing, motor-cars, machines, metal goods and oil products.

Agriculture is the main occupation in Australia. Wheat is the country’s principle crop but oats and maize are also cultivated in the south and in the grassland regions.

Sugar is produced along the north-east coast, while fruit-growing is developed in the south.

Australia is famous for its sheep. There are sheep-farms in many parts of the country and they produce a lot of wool for export. Cattle-farming is also developed in the Northern Territory, along the east coast and in the south.

Australia consists of six states: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania and two territories: the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.

The national capital is Canberra. Canberra is in its own separate area of land. The Australian Capital Territory is not under the rule of one of the states and it is coextensive with the city of Canberra. Each state of Australia has its own government, lifestyle quirks, breathtaking sights and sporting allegiances, which all contribute to Australia’s rich social tapestry.