Michael A. Stecker
mastecker@gmail.com


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Australia Home Page
(Australia)

Other Australian Pages:
Australian Photos 1 and 2    Anglo-Australian Observatory
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Uluru or Ayers Rock in Central Australia


Introduction
Australia, "the Land of Oz" is a country of antithesis. While it is the world's smallest continent, it is also the sixth-largest country and a very large island. The vast majority of the nation is a barren dull desert, but its coasts can be green and the northeast is tropical. It is one of the world's most urbanized countries, with most of the population living in the 10 largest coastal cities, yet the majority of the country (the outback) is almost devoid of people. Australia has some of the most violent and noxious animals in the world like man-eating sharks, crocodiles, venomous snakes and the most poisonous and aggressive spiders on earth. In contrast it has the lovable Koala and the friendliest people anywhere -- the Aussies.

Statistics
Country name:
Commonwealth of Australia

Area:
7,686,850 sq km , slightly smaller than the US, smallest of the seven continents

Terrain:
Mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast. Only 6% is arable.

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 meters
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 meters

Coastline:
25,760 km

Climate:
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north

Natural resources:
bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc,
diamonds, natural gas, petroleum

Population:
approx. 19 million

Ethnic groups:
Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

Religions:
Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%,
non-Christian 11%

Languages:
English, native aboriginal languages

Government type:
democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign

Capital:
Canberra


Dangerous Australian Animals
While Australia has some of the nicest people in the world, it is far from safe when it comes to other animals. Besides those sharks and nasty crocodiles, Australia is home to the ten most lethal snakes in the world. Sturan Sutherland reckons that of the world's top 25 venomous snakes, Australia has 21. And then there are those poisonous spiders. If you thought that the cities would be safe you are mistaken as Sydney is home to the funnel web spider, Atrax robustus. The male of this species is one of the most dangerous and aggressive spiders in the world, and is capable of causing death in as little as 15 minutes. The Sydney funnel web is a large, black spider with large powerful fangs. It lives in burrows or crevices in rocks or around house foundations, lining the burrows with silk. Colonies of more than 100 spiders may be found. The male spiders in particular tend to wander into houses in the summer, especially in wet weather. It should also be noted that the venom appears to particularly affect primates.

Stingrays
On September 3, 2006 while filming a documentary, Steve “Crocodile Hunter” Irwin was murdered off the coast of the most dangerous continent in the world – Australia.  Not only does Australia have the most venomous snakes, spiders and snails in the world, but now one must add stingrays to the long list of man-killing animals.  Mr. Irwin was stung in the heart by a stingray's sharp, toxin-filled barbs while swimming in the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns, Australia.  Paramedics were helicoptered in, but it was too late.  Doctors believe Irwin likely died instantly.

 

 

Geography

 

 

Australia, about the size of the U.S.A., is the only nation to occupy an entire continent. Its terrain is the flattest and (after Antarctica) driest of continents. While the majority of the land is desert, there are rainforests and vast plains in the north, snowfields in the south east, and fertile croplands in the east, south and south west. About one third of the country lies in the tropics.
It is 4,000 km. from the east to west coast and 3,200 km. from north to south. The continent-long Great Dividing Range runs north-south down the eastern seaboard, separating the coastal plain from the drier inland areas. Most of the population is concentrated in this zone. The Great Barrier Reef lies between 50 - 300 km off the central and northern eastern Australian coast. It extends for nearly 2000 km from the Torres Strait to Gladstone.

Over 75% of Australia is its unpopulated land called "the outback". Some of the outback is part of the world's oldest land surface. The Western Australian Shield of Western and South Australia is a huge plateau that is between 300 to 460 meters high. Scattered in many places are mesas which have become eroded. South of here, along the southern coast, is the Nullarbor Plain. It is a flat, dry treeless region of limestone with many caves. There is also the Great Sandy and Gibson Deserts in the lowlands. The Great Victoria Desert is in the Central Shield area. East of the shield are the Flinder Ranges in South Australia. To the far north is Kimberly, Cape York, and the northern part of the Northern Territory.

The country is divided into seven territories: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Australia Capital Territory (Canberra) and Victoria. South of Victoria is the island of Tasmania.


Points of Interest
Canberra
Canberra, Australia's capital is south of Sydney and the Snowy Mountains. It is a neatly formed city designed by an American. Its parliamentary buildings, war memorial and fountain (similar to the "Jet de Au" in Geneva) should not be missed.

Sydney
Sydney, the home of the venomous Sydney Funnel-Web spider -- the most leathal to man in the world -- is found along Australia's southeast coast in New South Wales territory. It is Australia's largest, oldest and most visited city. Built on a scenic harbor its bridge and opera house are landmaks recognized everywhere.
Sydney Funnel-Web spider: http://www.bettanet.net.au/sonata/fwspider.htm

Great Barrier Reef
Considered, the most extensive reef system and the biggest structure made by living organisms on earth, Australia's Great Barrier Reef runs along virtually the entire eastern coast of Queensland. In the north it is more or less continuous and located only 30 miles from the shore, while in the south,
individual reefs are more common, and up to 180 miles offshore. The city of Cairns and resort islands in the reef are good starting point to view the extensive undersea flora and fauna.

Great Ocean Road
This route along the south-western coast of Victoria (from Torquay to Warrnambool, Victoria) is one of the most spectacular coastal drives in Australia. Here you will encounter rugged cliffs, windswept beaches and lush forests. The most outstanding section is the Port Campbell National Park, which features sculptured limestone rock formations.

Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Nearly in the center of the continent Uluru (Ayers Rock) is the most famous landmark of the Australian outback. The red rock is the largest monolith in the world, measuring 3.6 km (2.2 miles) long and rising 348 meters (1141ft) from the flat desert to summit. Petroglyths and sacred Aboriginal sites are found along and within the monolith. Nearby are the almost equally impressive Olgas rock formations.

Alice Springs
The Alice (population 20,000) is a modern town in the middle of Australia, northeast of Ayers Rock. Built on the banks of the Todd River, the town was founded as a staging point for the overland telegraph line in 1870. It is the home base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service who supply medical care to the isolated population of Northern and South Australia Territories.

The Kimberley
The Kimberley in northern West Australia is a little-traveled area. It is characterized by rock formations and swift rivers including the spectacular gorges on the Fitzroy River, Wolfe Creek meteorite crater, and Bunge Bungle National Park.
 

To hear Australia's "second national anthem" -- Waltzing Matilda, click here