Commonwealth of Australia is the sixth largest country in the world and the only one that occupies an entire continent - Australia. It is located in the southern hemisphere and is the largest country in Australasia. Australia including Tasmania, which is an Australian state many smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Neighboring countries Australia New Zealand to the southeast, and Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and East Timor to the north and the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the northeast. The name 'Australia' comes from the Latin phrase terra australis incognita (terra australis're trying), meaning unknown southern land.
At least 40,000 years before the discovery by Europeans in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians who belong to more than 250 language groups. The continent was discovered by Dutch explorers in 1606 In 1770 the eastern half was declared possession of Britain. Initially, February 7, 1788 is based on New South Wales colony, inhabited by convicts. Population increased gradually over the next decades the continent has been investigated fully. Have been created five self-colonies.
On January 1, 1901, the six colonies became a federation and created Avstraliiskiya Union. Australia maintained a stable liberal democratic political system in the Commonwealth. The country's population today is 22 million with approximately 60% is concentrated in and around Canberra and the capital cities Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Australia is a prosperous developed country, the thirteenth largest economy in the world.
The country ranks high in the level of human development, quality of life, health, life expectancy, public education, economic freedom and protection of civil liberties and political rights. Australia is a member of the United Nations, the G20, the Commonwealth, ANZUS, OE
CD, APEC, Pacific Islands Forum and the World Trade Organization.
The name Australia comes from the Latin australis, "southern". Legends in Europe for Terra Australis Incognita, "unknown southern land" there since Roman times and are widespread in the Middle Ages, although not based on specific knowledge.
After discovering the continent of Australia, he began to be commonly referred to as Terra Australis. The first documented use of the word Australia in English was in 1625 in a note relating to Australia del Espíritu Santo, one of the islands of Vanuatu. In documents of the Netherlands East India Company in 1638 used the adjective Australische. By the late 18th century, when acquired its present meaning, the name used in Australia more broadly and frequently covers all the islands in the South Pacific. During this period most commonly used na
me of the continent is New Holland.
Name Australia and promoted by the British explorer Matthew Flindars who insists on his official acceptance since 1804. In his book of 1814 at the insistence of the publisher he used a common name Terra Australis, but the footnote says: "If I can afford a change of the initial term, this would be its transformation into Australia as is pleasing to the ear like the names of the other major parts of the earth. "Over the next decade the name has gradually imposed. Laklan Makkuori, Governor of New South Wales, used the name in his correspondence with the metropolitan and December 12, 1817 recommends that the Colonial Office it be officially approved. In 1824 the British admiralty assumed that the continent will officially be called Australia.
Australia is located entirely in the southern hemisphere and east of the Greenwich meridian. The country lies across the continent of Australia. Is rugged and southern tropical circle (the Tropic of Capricorn).
North Australia is closer to Asia through the Malay Archipelago. Are located north and bay peninsula York Carpenter. By Torres Strait Australia is separated from the island
of New Guinea. Arafura and Timor seas washed the northern shores of Australia. West and south Indian Ocean, which also touches the shores of Australia. To the south are large Avstraliiski Bay and Bass Strait that separates Australia from Tasmania. East along the rim of Coral and Tasman Sea, which are part of the Pacific. Great Barrier Reef is also located to the east.
Western Australia is a plateau, e flat middle part and east is mountainous. The highest peak is Mount Kosciuszko (2228 m), located in the Australian Alps. Great Dividing Range is composed of many high plateaus and low mountains and extends to the east of Australia. Protects anhydrous central part of the country's rainy clouds that are carried from the Pacific Ocean. In winter the high peaks covered with snow and are suitable for skiing.
In Australia there are many deserts - the Great Victoria Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert, Tanami Desert, Simpson Desert. All the deserts are located in the western and central Australia.
The only major river in Australia's Murray Darling with his flow. Murray rises in the Great Dividing Range and flows into the Indian Ocean. The river is important for people living in this area, so call it Australian Nile. Other rivers are small and drying due to hot and dry climate. In Central Australia is Lake Air, which is located in the depression of up to 12 m below sea level.
The climate in northern Australia is subequatorial with rainy and dry season and high temperatures throughout the year. In the central part is a desert climate. Subtropical zone in South Australia and southern Tasmania, due to the cooling effect of the Antarctic over the climate is temperate.
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