Commonwealth of Australia (English Commonwealth of Australia), Australia (English Australia, from Lat. Austrālis «South») – a state in the southern hemisphere, a member of the Commonwealth. The state capital is the city of Canberra. Located on the mainland Australia, Tasmania and several other islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The sixth area country in the world, the only state which occupies an entire continent. To the north of the Commonwealth are East Timor, Indonesia and Papua – New Guinea, north-east – Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands, south-east – New Zealand. The shortest distance between the main island of Papua – New Guinea and the mainland of Australia is only 145 km, and the distance from the Australian island of Boigu to Papua – New Guinea – only 5 miles.

Etymology of the name

The name "Australia" is derived from Latin. austrālis, which literally translates as "south" (earth). Legends of the «unknown southern land» (terra australis incognita), dating back to even at times of the Roman Empire, was quoted in the medieval books on geography, but were not based on real knowledge. The adjective «Australische» was also used by Dutch officials Batavia (modern Jakarta) to refer to all newly-discovered in 1638 with the southern lands. The word «Australia» was used in the translated into English a book by French writer-utopian Gabriel de Fuani "The Adventures of Jacques Sader, his journey and discovery of the Astral Earth" (1676), in which he describes an imaginary country with no government and laws.

Name «Australia» became popular after the publication in 1814, "Travels in Terra Australis» Captain Matthew Flinders, which is the first person to obognuvshim Australian continent. Subsequently, the Governor of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie, has used this name in official letters to England. December 12, 1817, he recommended to the Ministry of the Colonies the British Empire title «Australia» as the official. In 1824 the British Admiralty finally adopted the name of the continent.

In Australian English «Australia» is pronounced as / əstɹæɪljə,-li ː ə,-jə /.

Geography

Commonwealth of Australia – a country in the Southern Hemisphere, an area 7,692,024 km ². Australia is the sixth area of the country in the world after Russia, Canada, China, USA and Brazil, covering approximately 5% of Earth's land surface. It includes: Mainland Australia (including the island of Tasmania) area of 7,659,861 km ² (an area other offshore islands – 32 163 km ²), Cocos (Keeling) Islands area of 14 km ², Christmas Island area of 135 km ², the islands of Ashmore and Cartier area of 2 km ², Coral Sea Islands area of approximately 780,000 km ² (specified water area, the area of the islands themselves less than 3 km ²), Heard Island and McDonald area of 370 km ² (part of the Australian Antarctic Territory), Norfolk Island is 35 km ² and the Australian Antarctic Territory area of 6.1 million km ² (Australia's sovereignty over this territory is not recognized by most countries in the world).

North and east coast of Australia is washed sea Pacific: Arafura, Coral, Tasman, Timor Sea, west and south – the Indian Ocean. Australia are located near large island of New Guinea and Tasmania. Along the northeast coast of Australia for more than 2000 kilometers stretching the world's largest coral reef – the Great Barrier Reef.

Australia – a huge country, stretching from west to east almost 4000 kilometers from north to south – approximately 3,860 km. Extreme points of the mainland are as follows: in the north – Cape York (10 ° S. Sh.), In the south – Cape South East Cape (39 ° S. Sh.), In the west – Cape Steep Point (114 ° in total. .), in the east – Cape Byron (154 ° in. etc.).

The length of the coastline of Australia is 59,736 km (including mainland – 35 877 km, the island – 23,859 km), and the area's exclusive economic zone – 8,148,250 km ².

Relief

Most of the territory occupied by vast deserts and lowlands. The most famous deserts: the Great Sandy Desert, Great Victoria Desert. To the east of Victoria Desert extends the semi-desert Great Artesian Basin. To the east of the mainland are badly damaged, the low mountains of the Hercynian folding – the Great Dividing Range with a maximum height in the south (Mount Kosciuszko, 2228 m, Townsend, 2209 m). Faults and river valleys cut other mountains in the individual arrays. Tops of mountains are domed. The eastern slopes of the mountains steep break to the sea, Western – more gentle. Australia – the only continent where there are no active volcanoes and glaciated.

The lowest point of Australia is Lake Eyre (-20 m), whose area is about 15000 km ².

Mount Kosciuszko – the highest point of the Australian continent. The highest point in the country (volcano Mawson) is on the sub-Antarctic Heard Island.

Geological structure

At the heart of the country lies the ancient Australian platform representing part of the continent Gondwana in the southern hemisphere.

Natural Resources

The main natural wealth of the country are mineral resources. Availability of Australia natural resource potential is 20 times higher than average. The country occupies a place in the world reserves of bauxite (1 / 3 of world reserves and 40% extraction), zirconium, 1 st place in the world's largest uranium reserves (1 / 3 of the world), and third place (after Kazakhstan and Canada ) for its production (8,022 tons in 2009). The country occupies the 6 th place in the world reserves of coal. Has significant reserves of manganese, gold and diamonds. At the north-eastern and north-western coast in the offshore zone are small deposits of oil and natural gas.

The biggest in Australian iron ore deposits that were made for the 60-ies of XX century, located in the Hamersley Range in the north-west of the country (Field Mount Newman, Mount Goldsuerta, etc.). Iron ore is also available on Koolan and Cockatoo Islands in the Gulf King (in the north-west), in South Australia in the ridge Midlbek (Iron Knob, etc.) and in Tasmania – mine Savidge River (in the valley. Savidge).

Large deposits of polymetallic (lead, zinc, mixed with silver and copper) are in the western desert of New South Wales – Broken Hill deposit. An important center for mining non-ferrous metal deposits formed near Mount Isa (in Queensland). Deposits of non-ferrous metals are also available in Tasmania (Reed Rosebery and Mount Lyell), copper – in the Tennant Creek (Northern Territory) and in other places.

Major gold stocks are concentrated in the protrusions of the Precambrian basement and on the south-west of the continent (Western Australia), near the cities of Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, Norsmen and Wiluna, as well as in Queensland. Smaller deposits are found in almost all states.

Bauxites occur on Cape York Peninsula (mine Waipa) and Arnhem Land (mine Gov), as well as the south-west, the ridge Darling (mine Jarrahdale).

Containing manganese ores are located on the island of Groote Eylandt – in the Gulf of Carpentaria and the north-west of the country – in the Pilbara.

Uranium deposits discovered in various parts of the continent: in the north (Peninsula Arnhem Land) – not far from the rivers South and East Alligeytor, in South Australia – near Lake Frome in Queensland – Mary Kathleen mine in the western part of the country – mine Yillirri.

Major coal deposits are located in the eastern part of the mainland. The largest deposits as coke and coal nearest goal being developed near the towns of Newcastle and Lithgow (NSW) and the cities of Collinsville, Blair Athol, Bluff, Baralaba and Moura-Kianga in Queensland.

Geological researches found that in the depths of the Australian mainland and offshore from its shores there are large deposits of oil and natural gas. Oil found and produced in Queensland (mine Mooney, Oulton and Bennett), Barrow Island off the north-west coast of the mainland, as well as on the continental shelf off the southern coast of Victoria (mine Kingfish). Gas deposits (the largest field Ranken) and oil were also found on the continental shelf off the north-western coast of the mainland.

In Australia there are large deposits of chromium in Queensland, as well as in Gingin, Dongara, Mandarra (Western Australia), Marlene (Victoria).

Of non-metallic minerals are found different in quality and commercial use of clay, sand, limestone, asbestos, and mica.

Climate

Australia – the hottest part of the whole land of the Southern Hemisphere. In the north subequatorial climate, monsoon, hot, in the central part – a tropical desert, south-west – a subtropical winter rainfall. On the east coast – tropical marine, hot with a summer peak of precipitation. Tasmania – a temperate maritime climate type. The average January temperature – from +20 to +30 (+35, +37 ° C average daily temperature from December to March, the maximum annual recorded temperature – 42, 45), in July – from +12 to +20 ° C (minimum recorded annual temperature ranges from +3 to +5 ° C). Precipitation decreases from east to west, from 1500 mm to 250-300 mm per year.

The climate of Australia is under significant influence of ocean currents, including the El Niño because of which there are periodic droughts and the seasonal decrease of pressure that leads to the formation of cyclones in northern Australia.

In the temperate climate zone includes only the central and southern parts of the island of Tasmania. This island is largely influenced the surrounding water areas, and its climate is moderate with warm winters and cool summers. The average January temperature is 14-17 degrees, June – 8 degrees. Prevailing wind direction – west. The average annual rainfall in the western part of the island – 2500 mm, and the number of rainy days – 259. In the eastern part of the climate is somewhat less humid. In winter snow falls occasionally, but it is not stored for a long time. Heavy rainfall conducive to the development of vegetation, especially grasses, which plant grows throughout the year. The evergreen succulent natural and improved sowing forage grasses grasslands year-round grazing herds of cattle and sheep.

Hydrology

The river system of Australia is small. It consists mainly of the Murray River (Murray) to the influx of Darling, which originate in the Great Dividing Range. In the lower reaches of the Darling dries and splits into separate pools. The length of the Murray, is the longest river of the country is 2,375 km. The second-longest river in Australia – Murrumbidgee (1485 km), the third – Darling (1472 km, given the length of all tributaries of the Darling, which is not officially part of it, the length increases to 2,844 km, making Darling is the longest river in Australia). River Murray and its tributary, the Darling, are also the major rivers in the basin the Murray-Darling, who is considered the largest in the country: it takes about 14% of the land of Australia, or more than 1 million km ². Most developed river system in Tasmania. Rivers there have mixed rain and snow-fed and affluent throughout the year. They flow down from the mountains and so rapid, rapids, and have large reserves of hydropower. The last river is widely used for the construction of hydroelectric plants. Availability of cheap electricity contributes to the development in Tasmania of energy-intensive industries, such as pure electrolytic smelting of metals, manufacture of pulp, etc. The lack of surface water partially compensated by large reserves of groundwater, which accumulate in the Artesian Basin. Artesian Water Australia contain a lot of salt.

In Australia there are a large number of lakes that are located mostly in hollows filled with water only after rains. In this case, a significant part of the year, the lakes are covered with clay and saline crust. Large lakes are the Air (9500 km ²), MacKay (3494 km ²), Amadius (1032 km ²), Garnpang (542 km ²) and Gordon (270 km ²; is also the largest artificial reservoir of Australia). The largest salt lake – Air (9500 km ²), Torres (5745 km ²) and Gerdner (4,351 km ²).

Flora and fauna

Although most of the continent is semi-desert and desert, in Australia there are a variety of landscapes from similar alpine meadows to tropical rainforests. Due to considerable age of the continent (as well as low soil fertility), a wide variety of weather conditions and long-term geographic isolation, the biota of Australia is rich and unique. Of the approximately 12,000 species, about 9,000 – are endemic. Among flowering plants are endemic to 85% of mammals – 84%, birds – 45% of coastal fish – 89%. Many ecological regions of Australia and their flora and fauna threatened by human activities and introduced species of plants and animals.

The main legal instrument governing the protection of endangered species in Australia, is the "Act on Environment Protection and Biodiversity" in 1999 (English Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). In order to protect and preserve the unique ecosystem of Australia in the country, a large number of protected areas: 64 wetlands were included in the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance, 16 sites – World Heritage List. According to this indicator as an index of environmental sustainability, Australia in 2005, won the 13 th.

Most of the Australian trees are evergreen, and some of them have adapted to drought or fires, such as eucalyptus and acacia. On a continent grows a large number of endemic plants in the family Fabaceae, which can survive on marginal soils due to mycorrhizae with bacteria of the genus Rhizobium.

Flora of Tasmania's cool significantly different from the flora of the mainland. In addition to typical Australian eucalyptus trees on the island grows a significant number of tree species, related to New Zealand and South American, particularly the evergreen southern beech (notofagus).

The best-known representatives of the Australian fauna are the monotremes Animals (platypus and echidna), various marsupials (koalas, kangaroos, wombats), and birds such as emus, cockatoos and Kookaburra. In Australia, home to the largest number of venomous snakes in the world. Dingoes were brought avstroneziytsami who traded with the Australian Aborigines since 3000 BC. er. Many plants and animals, including giant marsupials have become extinct with the population of mainland Aborigines, while others (such as the Tasmanian Tiger (Tasmanian wolf)) became extinct with the advent of Europeans.

Australia is rich in sight with water and cephalopods. Among the most well-known species – sinekolchatye octopus (several species of the genus Hapalochlaena; Eng. Blue-ringed octopus), ranked among the most poisonous animal in the world, and the giant Australian cuttlefish, meets every winter for mass mating in one of the bays of the Gulf Spencer.

Political division

Australia has six states, two mainland territories and other smaller territories. States are Victoria (VIC), Western Australia (WA), Queensland (QLD), New South Wales (NSW), Tasmania (TAS) and South Australia (SA). The two major mainland territories are the Northern Territory (NT) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Status of the territories is very similar to the status of the state, except that the federal Parliament can overrule any decision of the parliament territory, while in relation to the states the federal law prevails over state law only in cases specified in section 51 of the Constitution. All other matters remain within the state, such as health, education, law enforcement, public transport, roads, judiciary and local government.

Every state and mainland territory has its own legislature: unicameral in the Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, and bicameral in the remaining states. The Lower House is called Legislative Assembly (in South Australia and Tasmania – the Legislative Assembly), and the top – the Legislative Council. Heads of state governments are premieres and territories – the Chief Ministers. In addition to the Governor-General of the Union, the monarchy is also represented in some states governors, and in the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory – administrators, which provide similar functionality to the governor.

Australia has several territories. The federal government controls the territory Jervis Bay, located in New South Wales (it is a military base and sea port of the national capital). Simultaneously under the control of Australia are inhabited several external territories: Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and several uninhabited territories: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands and Australian Antarctic Territory (a third of Antarctica). Australia's sovereignty over the territory of Antarctica is not recognized by many states, including Russia.

Population

As of July 1, 2007, Australia's population was 20,001,546 people.

Until the end of XVIII century, the population of Australia consists of Australian Aborigines who came were 40 – 50 thousand years ago, Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people of Tasmania (between the three groups there are cultural differences and even outside).

Most of the Australian population – the descendants of immigrants of the XIX and XX centuries, with the majority of these immigrants came from Great Britain and Ireland. Colonization of Australia came from the British Isles began in 1788 when the east coast of Australia was planted the first batch of exiles and founded the first English settlement of Port Jackson (later Sydney). Voluntary immigration from England took a large size only in 1820, when Australia began to develop rapidly sheep. After the discovery of gold here in Australia from England, and partly from other countries arrived to the mass of immigrants. Over 10 years (1851-61), Australia's population has nearly tripled, topping 1 million.

In the period from 1838 to 1900, arriving in Australia over 18 thousand Germans, who settled mainly in the south, by 1890 the Germans were the second largest ethnic group in the continent. Among them were persecuted Lutherans, economic and political refugees – for example, those who left Germany after the revolutionary events of 1848.

In 1901 the Australian colonies were united in a federation. Consolidation of the Australian nation has accelerated in the first decades of XX century, when finally matured a national economy of Australia.

For the period after World War II Australia's population increased by more than 2 times (after the First World War – 4 times) thanks to an ambitious program to stimulate immigration. In 2001 27,4% of the Australian population were people who were born abroad. The largest groups among them were the British and Irish, New Zealanders, Italians, Greeks, Dutch, Germans, Yugoslavs, Vietnamese and Chinese.

The largest city in Australia – Sydney, the capital's most populous state New South Wales.

If you leave the coast and proceed inland about 200 kilometers, will begin sparsely populated areas of the continent. Lush rainforests and rich agricultural lands are replaced by hot, dry, open area where you can meet just scrub and grasses. However, in these areas, too, is life. For hundreds of miles long sheep and cow pasture, or ranch. Further, in the depths of the continent, starting scorching heat of the desert.

Official language – English (dialect, known as Australian English).

Language

Australia has its own dialect of English, known informally as "strayn" (English strine, the Australian pronunciation of the word «Australian»).

Written Australian English largely follow the rules of British English (for example, used the end-our (colour),-re (centre),-ise (modernise), etc.)

The American pronunciation of the English language is the way of penetration into Australia through the popular TV show, broadcast CNN (for example, a favorite youth series "The Simpsons"). Adolescents imitate the pronunciation of popular TV heroes.

Economy

The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth, as well as Christmas Island, Cocos Islands and Norfolk Island. In addition, the currency is circulated in the independent states of Oceania – Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu. Australian Stock Exchange and the Sydney Futures Exchange – the largest shopping area of the country.

Australia – one of the few capitalist countries, most fully embodied the principle of laissez-faire in economic management, according to the index of economic freedom around the world. Australia's gross domestic product per capita is somewhat higher than Britain, France and Germany by purchasing power parity. The country has been recognized by the second 170 (2009 year) Human Development Index (en: Human Development Index) and sixth on the quality of life by the method of the magazine "Economist" (2005). In 2008, a record number of Australian cities have entered the top ten (en: World's Most Livable Cities) most comfortable for living cities of the same magazine, where Melbourne has won 2-e, Perth – 4 th, Adelaide – 7 th and Sydney – 9 th place, respectively.

Significant advantage of the extractive sector of the economy over the industrial production led to a significant increase in the Australian economy at the beginning of the century due to high prices for resources. The negative balance of payments Australia more than 7% of GDP, and a significant deficit current account balance was observed in the past 50 years. Over the past 15 years the Australian economy grew by an average of 3.6% per year, while the average economic growth was 2.5% during the same period.

In 1983, the Government has made the Australian dollar in freely convertible currencies and partly eased the regulation of economic systems. This was followed by a series of reforms that led to the partial deregulation of the labor market and further privatization of public enterprises, primarily in telecommunications [46]. The system of indirect taxation has undergone significant changes in July 2000 with the introduction of a special value-added tax (en: Goods and Services Tax), which is somewhat less dependent on income taxes of companies and individuals that marked the tax system in Australia prior to these changes.

In January 2007, the total number of people employed in all sectors of the Australian economy amounted to 10,033,480, the unemployment rate reached 4.6%. Over the last decade, inflation did not exceed 2-3% and base interest rates have fluctuated between 5-6%. In early 2008, the unemployment rate fell to 3.9%, but again reached 4.4% in December of that year. The services sector, including tourism, education and banking, 69% of GDP. Although agriculture and extraction of natural resources constitute only 3% and 5% of GDP respectively, but form a significant share of exports. In the second half of XX century economy reoriented to Japan and other East Asian countries, which are the main foreign trade partners of Australia. The main buyers of Australian products – Japan, China, USA, South Korea and New Zealand. Currently, Australia is actively working on establishing free trade with China – the second after Japan's foreign trade partner countries.

A notable development in the economic history of the continent was the abolition of Britain most favored against Australia, which occurred in connection with the transition to European integration.

Holidays

In addition to Christmas (December 25) Boxing Day (December 26) and Easter in Australia celebrate: Queen's birthday – the second Monday in June (except Western Australia, where this day is appointed each year individually), Australia Day – January 26, Labour Day – First Monday in October, the ANZAC Day – April 25, when the revered veterans of all wars, as well as widely celebrated Mother's Day – second Sunday in May and Father's Day – first Sunday in September. Of particular importance the country attached to the events of Operation Dardanelles during the First World War (1915), in which especially distinguished Australian and New Zealand soldiers.

British heritage

On the continent there is a drive on the left on the British model.

Remains high popularity of this sport like cricket.

In the period 1960-1971, Australia is moving from the British system of weights and measures to metric.

In 1966, being replaced the Australian pound (divide, on the British model, for 20 shillings of 12 pence each) on the Australian dollar, based on the decimal system.

Retains its status as the Queen's birthday public holiday. Formally, the British Queen is Australia's head of state.

In 1984 the national anthem "God Save the Queen" is replaced by a hymn, "Come on, beautiful Australia".

Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia.