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Australia: The Facts Written by Sarah Johnson
Australia is not only a country; it is also a continent located in the Southern Hemisphere. It divides the Indian Ocean from the South Pacific Ocean. Including Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island, Australia covers 19729677 square kilometers of land (an area only slightly smaller than the UnitedStates). Low plateaus with deserts form the majority of Australia's domain, though there is a fertile plain in the southeast. It is generally arid to semiarid in the south and east of Australia, while tropical in the north. During the Australian summer (winter in the Norhtern Hemisphere) a strong tropical sea breeze known as "the Doctor" gusts along the west coast. Most Australians are Caucasian (95%). Minority groups include Asians (4%) and Aboriginals (<1%). Aboriginals are the native people of Australia. The three principal religions are Anglican, Roman Catholic and Christian. English is spoken as the official language. The government is a federal parliamentary state based on English common law. The executive leader of the government is not elected but rather appointed by the current monarch of the United Kingdom. This governor in turn selects a prime minister and cabinet as well as justices of he Australian High Court. The legislative branch consists of the Senate and House of Representatives; member of both are elected. Australian citizens over 18 years of age are required to vote.
The Australian flag is blue with the flag of the United Kingdom in the upper left-hand corner and a large seven-pointed star in the lower left-hand corner. The remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars. (The Southern Cross is not easily viewed from the Northern Hemisphere.) Australia is divided into six states (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia) and two territories (Australian Capital Territory and Nothern Territory). The capital is Canberra, a city of 302,000 people located in the Australian Capital Territory. Some major cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, all boasting populations over 1 million. The majority of the total population of 18,438,824 (as of 1997) is concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts. The main industries in these areas center around mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals and steel. Keep in mind, bowever, that most of Australia consists of permanent pastures (54% of the land mass). There are more sheep than people in Australia! Sources:
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