G'day, mate!
- As of 2012, Australia has an estimated population of over 22 million people.
- Australia is the world's 6th largest country by area.
- Due to its large size and isolation from the rest of the world, Australia is sometimes known as the ‘island continent’.
- The largest cities in Australia are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
- A desert area known as the ‘outback’ covers much of the land.
- The name ‘Australia’ comes from the Latin word ‘australis’, meaning southern.
- It is estimated the humans have lived in Australia for around 45000 years.
- The indigenous people of Australia are Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.
- The highest mountain on mainland Australia is Mt Kosciuszko, standing 2228m (7310ft) above sea level.
- The world's largest reef system, the Great Barrier Reef, is found off the north-eastern coast of Australia.
- Australia has a range of different landscapes, including urban areas, mountain ranges, deserts and rain forests.
- Australia is home to a variety of unique animals, including the koala, kangaroo, emu, kookaburra and platypus.
- Although they usually keep to themselves, there are a range of dangerous snakes in Australia, such as the Brown Snake, Tiger Snake and Taipan.
- Australia has over 750 different reptile species, more than any other country in the world.
- Australia is a relatively wealthy country with a high life expectancy.
- Australia hosted the 1956 (Melbourne) and 2000 (Sydney) Summer Olympics.
Check out this cool video of Australia:
Click here to listen to an Aussie accent.