AustraliaAustralia

By: Jenna SnyderBy: Jenna Snyder

General InformationGeneral Information• Population-20,351,000Population-20,351,000• Capital city-CanberraCapital city-Canberra• Area-7,692,024kmArea-7,692,024km22

• Languages spoken-English, Chinese, Italian, Languages spoken-English, Chinese, Italian, Greek, & ArabicGreek, & Arabic

• Form of government-federal parliamentary Form of government-federal parliamentary democracy & constitutional monarchydemocracy & constitutional monarchy

• Primary religions-Protestant & Roman CatholicPrimary religions-Protestant & Roman Catholic• Major industries-mining, industrial & Major industries-mining, industrial &

transportation equipment, food processing, transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, & steelchemicals, & steel

ClimateClimate• Tropical in the northTropical in the north• Temperate (warm summers & cool Temperate (warm summers & cool

winters) in the southwinters) in the south• Interior is mostly desert or dry Interior is mostly desert or dry

grasslandgrassland

GeographyGeography• Covers 5% of Earth’s Covers 5% of Earth’s

land arealand area– Most is low & flatMost is low & flat– Highest & most Highest & most

mountainous land lies mountainous land lies along the east coastalong the east coast

• Nearly all the land Nearly all the land west of this region west of this region (about 90% of the (about 90% of the total land area) total land area) consists of level consists of level plains & plateausplains & plateaus

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background• Founded in 1788 as a British convict colonyFounded in 1788 as a British convict colony• Was a place of banishment until gold strikes Was a place of banishment until gold strikes

in 1851 opened floodgates of immigrationin 1851 opened floodgates of immigration• Independence came in 1901, with a Independence came in 1901, with a

constitution adapted in part from that of the constitution adapted in part from that of the United States. Immigration has been key to United States. Immigration has been key to Australia's development since 1788; from Australia's development since 1788; from 1945 through 2000 almost six million 1945 through 2000 almost six million immigrants arrived. Aborigines number immigrants arrived. Aborigines number about 517,000, and the government is about 517,000, and the government is making efforts to settle aboriginal land rightsmaking efforts to settle aboriginal land rights

Australian CuisineAustralian Cuisine

Pasta Carbonara

Pavlova (meringue

cake)

Australian Venison

Lamb Noisette (lamb w/

vegetables)

Peach & raspberry tart

Australian cold water lobster