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Brendan Sweeney Australia
Geography • Australia can be divided into 3 geographical sections, the Eastern Highlands, the Eastern Lowlands and the Western Plateau. There are small rainforests of eucalyptus trees that can get up to 60 inches of rain per year. Savannas, grasslands with small, spaced-out trees, cover an area in Australia the size of Western Europe. Australia has ten deserts that cover over 70% of the country. Australia also has many lakes and rivers. Some of these include: Lake Alexandria, Lake Eyre, River Murray, and Flinders River.
Language • Official language: English • Other languages: languages spoken by Aboriginal tribes.
Government • Type: Constitutional Monarchy • Leader: Prime Minister Julia Gillard • Branches: legislative, executive, judiciary • Australia is a commonwealth of England like Canada.
Economy • GDP: 1.57 trillion • Currency: Australian dollar (A$) • Exports: Coal, iron ore, diamonds, wool, gold • Imports: computers, crude oil, petroleum products • Partners: United States, China, Japan, India, South Korea
Australia Day • Australia day is celebrated to commemorate the founding of the first white settlement in Australia. It is celebrated on January 26.
More holidays • New Years Day- Jan 1St • Queens birthday- Jun 10th • Melbourne Cup Day- Nov 5th • Family and Community Day- sep 30th • National Sorry Day- May 26th
Sydney Opera House • The Sydney Opera House has come to represent Australia. It was completed in 1973 and was designed by JornUtzon. In one year, 2,000,000 people come here to watch performances with an additional 200,000 who take tours. It is located in Sydney harbor
Great Barrier Reef • The great barrier reef is the worlds largest reef system. There are more than 1,500 species of fish here. It generates 4-5 billion A$ per year through tourism.
Platypus house • The Platypus House is the only place in the world where you can see Tasmanian platypuses and echidnas in captivity. You can see platypuses eating, scavenging, and playing. This year, the platypus house will have the first baby platypus (puggle) born in captivity.
Sea World, Gold Coast Australia • Sea World Australia has many activities such as Dinosaur Island, marine attractions, rides, helicopter rides and whale watching. They are all interesting. Sea World’s goal is to teach people about the ocean in an entertaining way.
Sydney Harbor Bridge • The Sydney Harbor Bridge is the world’s largest arch bridge. It is another iconic attraction in Australia. Visitors can climb to see all of Sydney harbor
Facts • Official name: commonwealth of Australia • Capital: Canberra • National song: Advance Australia Fair/ God Save the Queen. • Population: 22,620,600 • Ethnicity: white 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1% • Population of major cities: Sydney 4.429 million; Melbourne 3.853 million; Brisbane 1.97 million; Perth 1.599 million; Canberra (capital) 384,000 (2009)
More facts • Highest point: Mount Kosciusko; 7,310 ft • Lowest point: Lake Eyre; 52 ft below sea level • States • New south whales • Victoria • Queensland • Western Australia • South Australia • tasmania
Sources • Enchantment of the world, Australia; pgs 25, 14, 15 and 118 • Australia and New Zealand; pgs 13,29, 30, 79, and 148 • www.google.com/publicdata • www.infoplease.org/index/country/australia • www.dfat.org/wiki/government_of_australia • www.greatbarrierref.org • Australia.gov.au>aboutaustralia>australia