Australia. Geographical position
Australia is an island continent lying south-east of Asia and forming, with nearby island of Tasmania and a number of smaller islands, the Commonwealth of Australia. In fact, it is the only country in the world, which occupies the territory of an entire continent. The Australian Commonwealth covers an area of 7,7 million sq. km, the same as the USA (excluding Hawaii and Alaska) and is more than 30 times larger than Great Britain.
The Australian continent is bounded on the north by the Timor and Arafura Seas and Torres Strait, on the east by the Tasman and Coral Seas, on the south by Bass Strait and the Indian Ocean. Australia is the smallest continent and the largest island in the world.
The flattest of all continents, Australia's most significant mountain chain is the Great Dividing Range (the eastern projection of which is known as the Australian Alps) running down most of the east coast. Other mountains include the Kimberley and Hamerslay Ranges in Western Australia, the Macdonnell and Musgrave Ranges in Central Australia, and the Flinders Range in South Australia. Mount Kosciusko (2230 m), in the Australian Alps, is Australia's highest point.
There are few rivers and lakes in Australia. Its best-known river is Murray (2600 km). The longest is the Darling (2740 km). These, with the Murrumbidgee, the Lachlan and a number of smaller rivers form the continent's river system.
The isolation of the continent has resulted in the development of a distinctive Australian flora and fauna. This is reflected in the country's coat-of-arms by the symbols of Australia's native animals and plants: the kangaroo and the emu and a twig of wattle. It is also reflected in Australia's poetic name: "Land of Wattle".
Vocabulary
to occupy ['ɔkjupaɪ] — займати
entire [ɪn'taɪə] — весь, увесь
excluding [ɪks'klu:dɪŋ] — за винятком
to bound [baund] — межувати; обмежувати
significant [sɪg'nɪfɪkənt] — важливий, значний
to include [ɪn'klu:d] — включати до складу
coat-of-arms [,kəutəv'a:mz] — герб
twig [twɪg] — гілочка
wattle [wɔtl] — австралійська акація або мімоза
QUESTIONS
1. Where is Australia situated?
2. What is special about Australia?
3. What is the country bounded by?
4. What most significant mountain chain ?
5. What rivers are there in Australia ?
6. What do you know about Australia's flora and fauna ?
Australia. History
It is probably also due to its geographical position that Australia was the last continent to be inhabited by the white man. The first landing by Europeans took place in 1606. More that a century and a half later an expedition headed by the British explorer James Cook added the land to the possessions of the Britishcrown. Until the name "Australia" (meaning "South Land") became generally accepted for the continent, it had been referred to as New Holland or New South Wales.
The exploration of outback was completed by the end of the 19th century. The discoveries of mineral resources have stimulated development in many parts of the country and made Australia an important source of raw materials in the world.
In 1901 the separate colonies in Australia merged together and became the States of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Australia took part in World War I and in World War II.