Meet Australia

Who discovered Australia?Who discovered Australia?

• The first The first Europeans Europeans visited the visited the shores of shores of Australia in Australia in 1606. It was the 1606. It was the Spanish ship of Spanish ship of Luis Vaez de Luis Vaez de Torres. Torres.

• In 1770 the English captain James Cook discovered the In 1770 the English captain James Cook discovered the east coast of Australia. He raised the British flag and east coast of Australia. He raised the British flag and New South Wales as British Colony.New South Wales as British Colony.

Physical featuresPhysical features• Australia is located south of Asia, between the Pacific Australia is located south of Asia, between the Pacific

and Indian Ocean. Australia, Tasmania and a number and Indian Ocean. Australia, Tasmania and a number of smaller islands, Cocos Islands and Kangaroo Island of smaller islands, Cocos Islands and Kangaroo Island form the Commonwealth of Australia.form the Commonwealth of Australia.

Europe can be placed on AustraliaEurope can be placed on Australia

• Australia’s area of 7, 706, 168 sq. km is Australia’s area of 7, 706, 168 sq. km is nearly as large as the United States nearly as large as the United States excluding Alaska and Hawaii. It is about 25 excluding Alaska and Hawaii. It is about 25 times larger than Britain and Ireland. times larger than Britain and Ireland.

The longest river is the Darling (2,740 The longest river is the Darling (2,740 km).km).

Climate Climate • The climate of Australia The climate of Australia

ranges from the ranges from the tropical regions of the tropical regions of the Nothern Territory to Nothern Territory to the cool temperature the cool temperature conditions in Tasmania, conditions in Tasmania, Victoria, where it Victoria, where it snows in winter.snows in winter.

• In January you can find In January you can find most people at the most people at the beach. beach.

PopulationPopulation

• Australia’s population Australia’s population is only 22 903 is only 22 903 182.million people. 182.million people. Australia is a land of Australia is a land of immigrants. immigrants.

• Its population is Its population is subdivided into subdivided into “original Australians” “original Australians” or Aborigines, “old or Aborigines, “old Australians” and Australians” and “new Australians”. “new Australians”.

Australia’s territories and Australia’s territories and statesstates

• There are six states and two territories in Australia. The There are six states and two territories in Australia. The two territories are Northern Territory and Australian two territories are Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory. The six Australia’s states are New Capital Territory. The six Australia’s states are New South Wales; Tasmania is the only island state, Victoria South Wales; Tasmania is the only island state, Victoria which is the smallest state, South Australia which is the which is the smallest state, South Australia which is the driest state, Queensland, and Western Australia.driest state, Queensland, and Western Australia.

Australia’s citiesAustralia’s cities

• More than 80 per cent More than 80 per cent of Australia’s of Australia’s populations live in the populations live in the capital cities of the capital cities of the six states (Sydney, six states (Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne, Hobart, Melbourne, and Perth).and Perth).

• Sydney and Sydney and Melbourne are Melbourne are modern seaports. modern seaports.

Canberra is not one of Canberra is not one of Australia’s largest cities, but it Australia’s largest cities, but it is a capital city of Australia.is a capital city of Australia.

The first things most people think of are the strange The first things most people think of are the strange native animals. Australia’s best-known animals are native animals. Australia’s best-known animals are the kangaroo, koala, dingo, Tasmanian devil, the kangaroo, koala, dingo, Tasmanian devil, wombats, opossum, echidna, and platypus. There wombats, opossum, echidna, and platypus. There

are also crocodiles in the north.are also crocodiles in the north.

KoalaKoala

• The koala is one The koala is one of the most of the most famous animals. famous animals. The koala lives on The koala lives on the leaves of the leaves of eucalyptus trees. eucalyptus trees. It eats only It eats only eucalyptus leaves eucalyptus leaves and it sleeps in and it sleeps in the day.the day.

PlatypusPlatypus

• When the When the English scientists English scientists first saw the first saw the platypus they platypus they said that such said that such animal couldn’t animal couldn’t exist. exist.

Some of Australia’s best known birds are the Some of Australia’s best known birds are the emu (which cannot fly), lyrebird, bower-bird, emu (which cannot fly), lyrebird, bower-bird,

and kookaburra - the bird which laughs.and kookaburra - the bird which laughs.

Australia’s symbolAustralia’s symbol

• The Kangaroo, The Kangaroo, and the emu are and the emu are the symbols of the symbols of Australia Australia

Australian foodAustralian food• Among very popular Among very popular

products in Australia is products in Australia is vegemite. Vegemite is vegemite. Vegemite is a vegetable extract a vegetable extract used as a spread on used as a spread on the bread. the bread.

• There is the cake There is the cake named in honor of the named in honor of the great Russian Ballerina great Russian Ballerina Anna Pavlova. It is now Anna Pavlova. It is now a very popular desert a very popular desert and it is called the pav. and it is called the pav.

• Kangaroo Fillet is a Kangaroo Fillet is a past of the Australian past of the Australian food choices, and it food choices, and it is not popular with all is not popular with all Australians. Australians.

• Damper is traditional Damper is traditional Australian bread, Australian bread, made without yeast made without yeast ((дрожжидрожжи), and ), and commonly made on commonly made on a campfire in a cast a campfire in a cast iron camp oven.iron camp oven.