AUSTRALIA
Australia is the world's 6th largest country by total area. It is in the southern hemisphere, and has many smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Australia doesn't have an official language but according to the 2006 census, English was spoken in 79% of homes. There is also no set religion. In the 2006 census, 64% stated Christian, including 26% Roman Catholic, 19% Anglican, and about 19% stated no religion.
Captain Arthur Phillip led the First Fleet into Port Jackson on 26 January 1788, and this day became Australia's national day. Australia joined Britain during WWI in 1914. During WWII, Australia became an ally of the U.S. after the defeat of the U.K. in Asia and the threat of a Japanese invasion.
Australia's major exports are iron ore, coal, and gold. Australia's major imports are crude petroleum, passenger motor vehicles, and refined petroleum. Australia is the world's thirteenth largest economy and has the fifth higher per capita GDP, which is at $66,984.
The Australian Alps are the highest mountain ranges in Australia. The largest living structure of the world is the Great Barrier Reef. It lies off of the northeast coast of Australia and is over 1,200 miles of coral. The desert outback covers most of the interior. It is too hot, dry and barren to support many people. Some major cities of Australia are Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Canberra. The Great Artesian Basin is the world's largest and deepest fresh water basin. Because of the dry, arid interior of Australia, most rivers and lakes are dry and empty.
The top ten vacation spots of Australia are Canberra, Sydney, Red Centre, Darwin, Kakadu Kational Park, Tennant Creek Back, Ulluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, The Great Barrier Reef, Adelaide, and Tasmania.
Australian Flag
Australian Outback
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