Australia

Location & Geography

Australia, commonly known as the “down under country” is the sixth largest nation in the world. It is located between 27� 00' S latitude and 133� 00' E longitude. The word Australia means the Southern land. This is the origin of the common colloquialism used today, mostly in the media. Australia, the down under nation is one of the Oceania countries that cover a total land area of 7,741,220 square kilometers. Out of this, 58920 square kilometers make up the several islands. The nation has no land boundaries, hence also known as the island country. The Capital City of Australia is Canberra commonly known as the “Bush Capital”. The nation most popular city is Sydney with the famous Opera House. Australia has a lot to explore, including the renowned world largest Great Barrier Reef among other natural features. Major Australian cities are the Great Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide. The nation has experienced both a significant economic and population growth. As per the 2016 statistics, Australian population has hit 24,076,300 people. This is expected to go beyond 30 million by 2030. Despite the high population, the country has one of the lowest population densities, approximately 2.8-3.0 people per square kilometer, far much less than of most countries. Most people normally confuse Australia with New Zealand. Tasman Sea separates Australia from New Zealand (the smallest country in the world).

Economy

Australia plays a major economic role globally. It is the twelfth largest economy. It is one of the wealthiest countries under the category of developed nations. In fact, as per the 2014 statistics, the nation had the fifth highest per capita income, recording the second highest human development index in the world. When it comes to living standards, education, basic needs, civil rights, democracy and political freedom, Australia takes pride in itself.

Mining-related activities, manufacturing, telecommunication, exports and banking are some of the major income sources for Australia. Service sectors such as tourism, financial, and education account for more than over 55% of the total GDP. The country has a higher wealth per adult compared to several nations. As per the recent statistics, the current annual growth rate stands at 3.0 %, an improvement that is beyond the expectations of economic analysts.

Also worth noting, when several economies were experiencing recession in 2008-2009, Australian was among the giant economies that survived the recession and was least affected. Nevertheless, Australia is also a major exporter of agricultural products such as wool, wheat, natural gases, and oils. The largest markets for its exports are the U.S., New Zealand, China, South Korea and Japan. When it comes to wine among other drinks, Australians are the best that beats the rest. Australia is among the top 5 world leading exporters of wine. The currency used in the nation is the Australian Dollar (AUD)

Climate

Just as it is the norm with the nations of the Southern hemisphere, Australia is a dry nation experiencing less than 600 millimeters of rain. Temperate climatic conditions are most experienced, with the Northern States being warmer and the Southern States being cooler. The island nation is known for its vast beautiful landscapes. The North-East is covered by rainforest, Mount Augustus of the West, the South-East Mountain ranges, and the central dry desert makes up the landscapes. Vast grasslands such as the Brigalow and coastal also forms part of the ranges. The Northern Eastern Coast and the popular Cape York of Peninsula are covered by the tropical rainforest. Summer is experienced as from December to Feb, autumn from March to May, winter from June to August while spring is as from September to November.

Australian People

Australians are very friendly people and love partying a lot. Sydney is the largest town where all the fun and drinking goes down. You can compete with the Australians in anything but not drinking unless you want to rent the toilets for good. They pretty know how to handle their beer and wine. Whisky is plenty in several bars and clubs across the major cities. The population is heavily concentrated in the Metropolitan Cities and along the Eastern Coasts. This could contribute to the partying culture.

English is the common language but because of the colonial wave and immigrants from the British Isles, languages such as the common Home Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Greek, Vietnamese, and Cantonese are also spoken. Today, two out of seven Australians were born outside yet the story was different before the arrival of colonizers in 1788. The Aborigines and Torres Strait Slanders were the indigenous Australians. Tourists must be finding it fantastic and fun with the diversity of these existing ethnic groups. But above all, the glamorous Sydney is where bars, beaches, arts, and boutiques meet to quench the thirsty for fun.

Tourism and Travel

Australia tops the world’s greatest tourist destinations. There is more than the exclusive Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reefs, and the beaches. One great place to visit is the Queensland Museum that will quench your curiosity. Several exhibits are available to help you understand the story behind the queen. If you are have been dreaming of having a clue of how a dinosaur looked like, then this is the place to visit. The Museum has the states’ Muttaburrasaurus dinosaur skeleton.

Another great destination is the Royal Botanical Garden that has thousands of plant species. This glamorous garden has been used to host theater performances and Moonlight Cinemas. Not forgetting Bondi; one of the greatest beaches located near the Central Business District. The number of visitors to this beach is alarming! Other great sites that are a must visit in Australia are Port Jackson, Cairns, Gold Coast, Sydney Harbor Bridge, and the Melbourne City.

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