Australia The Land Smallest flattest and least populated of the major continents Only continent with one country The waters surrounding Australia are the key attractions Interior is mostly desert and known as The Outback Has the Worlds longest coral reef Great Barrier reef 1200 miles long Currently going through one of the driest cycles South of the equator Seasons are opposite of North America because we are above the equator o January and February are the hottest months o June August is their rainy season Australia s having economic problems right now due to the temperatures of the The Climate water The Population 22 23 million people 80 of the population lives along the coastlines Very limited market for travel and tourism o The distance from everything is what has impacted this so much far away People and History years ago South Whales Australia The 1st inhabitants came over from Asia Aborigines over land bridges 50 000 Spanish and Portuguese sailors explored the area in the 1500 s Captain James Cook claimed the land for Britain in the 1700 s and named it New Claimed by the British because they needed a ne place to ship convicts to o They established a Penal colony in New South Whales for male and female convicts Sydney Aborigines were treated badly When the British arrived about 75 000 Aborigines lived in Australia o Today they make up less than 1 of the population In 1901 Australia became an independent nation from Great Britain and became part of the common wealth of nations o Old British colonies that have formed an alliance Between 1942 and 1972 more than 2 million immigrants came to Australia o Italians Greeks Croatians Macedonians and Turks Australia is almost the size of the U S Has 6 states and 2 territories Capital is Canberra Sydney is the country s largest city New South Whales Known as the gateway to Australia Sydney capital and Australia s largest city o Developed from a penal colony a The Sydney harbor bridge nicknamed coat hanger by locals due to its shape connects the city from its suburbs across the bay Sydney s harbor dominates the landscape great beaches Has beautiful architecture b Sydney opera house built by Danish architect The center of the country is known as the Outback mostly desert Australian Capital Territory ACT The country needed a new capital in the early 1900 s Sydney and Melbourne both wanted to be the capital so they came to an agreement to meet in between and make the Australian Capital Territory of Canberra Canberra means meeting place in Aborigine Victoria Australia s smallest state Capital is Melbourne o Australia s most sports minded city Football soccer cricket horse racing Phillips island is to the south o Place to go to see penguins Northeast of Melbourne are the Australian Alps o Many ski villages Ballarat is west of Melbourne o Visitors can pan for gold and walk through a reconstructed miners town The island state More than 30 of the state is protected World Heritage area national parks and Tasmania reserves Wet and lush Capital is Hobart Mt Wellington o Beautiful snow capped mountain Has the remains of the last convict prison South Australia Known for wine A self reliant state everything you need is found here Capital is Adelaide o Sophisticated Culture and good living are important Museum has the worlds largest collection of Aboriginal art Murray river o Australians equivalent to the Mississippi o Most important inland waterway o Where German immigrants established Australia s oldest vineyards in the Barossa valley 19th century Kangaroo island o One of Australia s largest islands o Flinders Chase National Park is where all the kangaroos koalas emus etc live in their natural habitat The opal capital of Australia is Coober Pedy o Name is Aboriginal for white fella down a hole Western Australia Bigger than Texas and Alaska combined Mostly a Mediterranean climate Capital is Perth Unspoiled beaches extend along the coast north of Perth Broome o City on the north coast that at one time supplied 80 of the worlds mother of pearl used to make buttons o Also the southern gateway to the Kimberly which is a rugged Outback Cattle stations and Aboriginal culture o The Argyle diamond field produces a rare pink diamond and industrial region gems Northern territory Capital is Darwin o Where Aboriginal Asian and European cultures meet Darwin is the gateway to Kakadu National Park o Home to Aboriginal tribes crocodiles water buffalos birds waterfalls and dramatic rock formations Alice springs o Only major town between Adelaide and Darwin o The base for exploring the Outback o Is an Oasis Uluru Ayers Rock o Largest single rock o Glows deep red when the sunset and sunrise hit the surface o Scared to the Aborigines Olgas o Cluster of smooth domed boulders o Considered evidence of the creation period Uluru and the Olgas are jointly known as Uluru Kata National Park Queensland Capital and Australia s 3rd largest city is Brisbane o Known for nightlife Many luxury resorts beautiful beaches mining towns modern cities rainforest deserts and the Great barrier reef Gold coast resorts are where many casinos are located The main gateways for the great barrier reef are Cairns and Port Douglas New Zealand Midway between the equator and the South Pole Geographically part of Polynesia Only native mammals are bats and has no snakes Many rare species of birds are in New Zealand Zealand that cannot fly Standard of living is among the worlds highest Divided into north and south island o New Zealanders nicknamed themselves Kiwi after Kiwi bird in New North Island The more populous of the 2 islands Known for sandy beaches active volcanoes geysers hot springs boiling mud Maori culture caves fertile grazing lands and grape growing regions Capital is Wellington Auckland is the largest city o Mix of modern buildings and Victorian architecture o Most international flights come into Auckland most visitors arrive here o City of Sails o Mount Eden an extinct volcano is the highest point o Highlights of the city include Maori art and handicrafts seen in the War Memorial Museum and skilled boat builders Maori s sailed in huge war canoes Northland o Warm climate o Off the northeast coast is the Bay of Islands Fishing golf small boat cruises and yacht charters Rotorua o Center of the Maori culture Maori arts and crafts Institute in the Whakarewarewa reserve is where travelers can tour a replica village see shows featuring traditional Maori song and dance and even attend a Maori
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