Australia

Land Characteristics

Name of Country: Australia

Form of Government: Parliamentary monarchy (Commonwealth)

Capital: Canberra

Area: 7692030 km²

Time Zone: GMT + 7 to + 9 hours

Population: 21 875 000

Population 2015: (estimated) 22 200 000

Population density: 2.8 per km²

Life expectancy: 82 years

Infant mortality (per 1000): 5

Languages: English*, Australian languages (Aranda, Warlpiri, Pitjantjatjara, Tiwi, etc.)

Literacy: 100%

Religion: Catholic 26%, Anglican 20%, Presbyterian 3%, Other Christians 22%, Others 12%, unaffiliated 17%

Population: Australian of European descent 94%, Asians 4%, Aboriginal 1%, Other 1%

Currency: Australian Dollar (AU$)

Economy: Agriculture 2.1%, Industry 27%, Services 70.9%

GDP per capita: 38510 US-Dollars

Climate: Hot and dry in the center, tropical in the north, rainy season from November to March, temperate in the south east and on the south coast

Highest point: Mount Kosciuszko (2229m high)

Australia is the smallest continental land mass but it is also the sixth largest country in the world. A large part of the country is made up of flat planes with millions of grazing sheep and arid deserts. In coastal areas it is more fruitful and has mega-cities such as Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. This is the area where most of the population lives.
It is believed that Australia was first settled around 40000-50000 years ago by people from Asia. These are probably the ancestors of the Aborigines. Both in 1642, and 1644 Dutch sailors, among them Abel Tasman, became the first Europeans to land on the Australian coast. Then followed the first Englishman, William Dampier, in 1688 and 1699. In 1770 James Cook claimed the Australian territory for the British Empire.
160 000 offenders came into the country since 1788, mainly because of the fact that Australia became a convict colony. This stopped in the middle of the 19th century when  deportation was ultimately discontinued. Not only convicts settled but also some free citizens, many of them because of the gold rush in 1850, which also brought prosperity and wealth to the country.
The export of wool and grain secured the economic prestige. This caused the voices who were calling for independence from Great Britain. Although the Australians received far-reaching independence in 1850, the six states werent able to form the "Commonwealth of Australia" until 1901.
In the past the Aboriginal people have been treated very poorly, sometimes even to this day, with the result that many citizens expect an official apology from the government.