Australia

AUSTRALIA

I would like to talk about Australia. Firstly, I will talk about geography and population, then I will mention something from the Australian's life and nature and at the end something about history and culture.

Australia is the biggest island in the world. It's the only country that covers a whole continent (country + continent + island). It's located in the Southern Hemisphere and it's surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The country has about 26 million inhabitants. Most of them live along the southeastern coast, because the interior of the country is hot and dry. The capital city is Canberra, but the most-known and largest city is Sydney. Other big cities include for example Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide (coastal cities and towns).

Australia has mostly warm climate—tropical in the north, dry and hot in the interior, and milder in the south. A large part of the country (2/3) is covered by deserts—often called „the Outback“. It's the driest inhabited continent on earth. There are also some rain forests in Australia.

In Australian nature you can find animals that do not live anywhere else—for example kangaroos, koalas or platypuses. Some of the most famous natural landmarks are the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral system in the world, and the sacred mountain Uluru, which is the largest rock in the world. It is an important symbol for Australians and Aboriginal people. Today they make up about 2% of Australian population. Another famous part is the Australian Alps with the highest mountain, Mt Kosciuszko.

The Australian's history starts with its native inhabitants—the Aborigines. They lived on the continent thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. In the 18th century (1788), the British founded a penal colony, and from that time the country developed into a modern state. Today, Australia is a multicultural society because people came here from Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. The official language is English.

Australian culture is very diverse. People are generally relaxed, friendly and sporty—popular sports include surfing, cricket and rugby. Australian cuisine is influenced by British and Asian cooking. The well-known dishes include barbecue meals, meat pies, or a dessert called pavlova.

The country has a strong and modern economy. Australia is rich in natural resources, such as iron ore and gold. Tourism also plays an important role—people from all over the world visit Australia for its beaches, cities, and beautiful nature. It is also a wool producing country.

For many people, Australia is a dream destination. It offers really diverse nature, interesting animals, warm weather and a different lifestyle, which can make it very attractive.

1

The Flag

• 1) Union Jack in the left corner shows the historical connection with the United Kingdom.

• 2) The big star under the Union Jack has seven points:

◦ six points – six states of Australia

◦ the seventh point – represents the territories