AUSTRALIA

Australia

1) Australian Union, state. Name Australia (Australia) by location on mainland Australia, where over 99% of the territory of the state is located. From XVIII in. British possession. Currently a federation of the Commonwealth of Australia (Commonwealth of Australia) composed of six states and two territories. Included in the Commonwealth.

2) mainland in South. hemisphere, part of the world. The name of the mainland is due to the fact that in ancient times geographers were convinced that there was a South. hemispheres of a hypothetical land, which was inscribed on the maps as Terra Incognita - "unknown land", Terra Australis Incognita - "unknown southern land" or Terra Australis - "southern land". In search of this mainland goll. navigators discovered the territory modern Australia, called New Holland. As a result of the second voyage of J. Cook in 1772-1775 gg. South the mainland in the middle latitudes was not discovered and, as Cook believed, if it exists, then only in the highest latitudes. Therefore, the name Terra Australis, which has already become familiar on the maps, turned out to be free. This was taken advantage of by the English navigator and hydrographer Flinders, who in 1814 G. proposed to call New Holland Terra-Australis or Australia. Already after 10 years the name Australia (Australia) completely replaced the old name New Holland from the maps. Cm. also Oceania.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .

AUSTRALIA

smallest continent. The area is 7.6 million km2. Entirely located in the south. hemisphere, isolated. It is washed by the Pacific (Tasman and Coral Seas) and the Indian Oceans (Arafura and Timor Seas). Large islands: Tasmania and New Guinea, along the north-east. Coast for 2300 km stretches the Great Barrier Reef. The coastline is slightly indented. Large bays - Carpentaria in the north and the Great Australian - in the south. the large peninsulas - Cape York and Arnhemland - are located in the north. Geological structure and relief. At the base of A. is an ancient platform. Us." 3. and in the central part, the crystalline base comes to the surface, in the rest of the territory it is covered by a cover of sedimentary rocks. On the east is the mountainous region of the Great Dividing Range (Hercynian folding) with the Australian Alps. A. is the flattest continent. Ore minerals are confined to crystalline shields, deposits of oil, gas, phosphorites, coal - to sedimentary rocks. Climate. The driest continent, insufficient moisture and high levels of solar radiation. Four climatic zones. Subequatorial - variable-humid monsoon climate with humid hot summers and dry winters. There are two types of climate in the tropical zone - humid tropical and dry. The first one is to the east. coast and slopes of the Dividing Range. The second in the center of the mainland. There are three regions in the subtropical zone: humid subtropical (to the southeast); subtropical continental (along the Great Australian Bight); subtropical Mediterranean (to the south-west). Tasmania is located in the temperate zone, dominated by western transport with high rainfall, cool summers and mild winters. Inland waters are poor. 60% of the territory has no flow into the ocean. The Pacific Ocean basin includes small rivers flowing from the Great Dividing Range, full of water all year round, some are navigable. The largest river is the Murray with a tributary Darling, rain floods are typical, the Darling dries up during the dry season. most lakes. has no runoff and is saline. The largest Air. natural areas. Isolation from other continents had a great influence, a large number of endemics (eucalyptus and marsupials). Humid and variable-moist tropical forests are located in the north-east. mainland. Palm trees, laurels, tree ferns, ficuses grow on red ferrallitic soils. Along the coast are mangroves. Among the animals - tree marsupials, possums, couscous, echidnas, birds of paradise, cassowaries, in the rivers - crocodiles. In the forests of the Great Dividing Range, eucalyptus trees predominate in the tree layer, in the south. parts - beech. Above 1000 m in the Australian Alps, mountain forests with altitudinal zonality. Summer-dry hard-leaved forests of the Mediterranean type are represented in the southeast. and south-hall, parts. They are the most valuable in economic terms (eucalyptus trees reach? 70 m). Towards the inner regions, the forests become lighter, gradually turning into light forests and savannahs. Kangaroos, emus, koalas, platypuses, cockatoos, budgerigars live here. Kangaroos in the savannas of Australia play the same role as ungulates in Africa. The interior districts are vast deserts and semi-deserts with desert soils. Thickets of thorny bushes (scrubs) are characteristic. There are no areas without vegetation cover. There are no large predators. Flora and fauna have been significantly altered by man. main population. Descendants of immigrants from the British Isles (about 16 million people) and natives with features of the equatorial and Mongoloid races (about 150 thousand people). The official language is English, the most common religion is Christianity. The mainland is entirely occupied by the Commonwealth of Australia.

Brief geographical dictionary. EdwART. 2008 .

Australia

(Australia), the smallest of the continents, is located in the South. hemisphere, part of the world. The name goes back to ancient times, when it was believed that in Yuzh. Hemisphere there is an unknown southern land - Terra Australis Incognita. The mainland was originally called New Holland. The English hydrographer Flinders proposed in 1814 to rename it A. In the west, south, and north, the mainland is washed by the Indian Ocean and its seas; in the east, by the Tasman and Coral Seas of the Pacific Ocean. Extreme points of the mainland: in the north - cape York , 10°41′ S; in the south, Cape Yugo-Vostochny, 39°11′ S; to the west - cape Steep Point , 113°05′ E; to the east - Cape Byron, 153°34′ E The shores are poorly dissected, large bays: Carpentaria in the north and Bol. Australian in the south. In the north there are two large peninsulas: Arnhemland and Cape York Tasmania , Kangaroo, Melville etc.) 7704.5 thousand km². The length of A. from north to south is 3200 km, from west to east 4100 km. Along the east coastline stretches for 2300 km Bol. barrier reef .
The basis of the mainland is the ancient Australian platform, which is bordered in the east by the Australian folded belt. Avg. the height of the mainland is 215 m, plains prevail, up to 95% of the territory is located below 600 m above sea level. (the lowest continent). In the west of the mainland lies a plateau 400–500 m high with isolated mountain ranges; hours - nism. with intermittent lakes and salt marshes. On V. passes Bol. Dividing Range . The highest point of Kosciuszko (2230 m) is located in the Australian Alps. Large deposits of stones. and brown coal, iron., copper, polymetallic, titanium and uranium ores, bauxite, gold, oil and nature. gas.
B. h. A. lies in the tropics, S. - in equatorial latitudes, Yu. - in subtropical latitudes. OK. 2/3 of the territory (in the central part of the mainland) has a desert and semi-desert climate. Vost. The coast has a maritime climate, with maximum rainfall in the summer. Avg. temperature in January from 20 to 30 °С, in July from 12 to 20 °С. Precipitation decreases from east to west from 1,500 to 250 mm per year or less. Major rivers: Murray with inflow darling , flinders . A. is characterized by the so-called. Creeks are rivers that fill with water only after heavy rains. Up to 60% of the territory has no flow into the ocean. More than 30 large artesian basses are known. total square. OK. 4800 thousand km², they play an important role in water supply. Int. the expanses of the continent are occupied by deserts: Bol. Sandy, Gibson, Bol. desert victoria . Around them stretches a belt of semi-deserts with thickets of eucalyptus and acacia. To S., E. and SE. deserts turn into savannahs, forests (eucalyptus, palm trees and tree ferns) grow along the coasts and in the mountains. There are no ungulates, primates, or predatory animals in Azerbaijan, but there are many feral dogs, pigs, and rabbits brought in by settlers. Among the endemic species there are many marsupials: kangaroos, marsupial moles, wombats, etc. Only here are egg-laying mammals: platypus and echidna. Of the birds are characteristic: emu ostriches, cassowaries, cockatoo parrots, etc. Among the nat. parks and reserves: Mount Buffalo , Kosciuszko, Wilsons-Promontory, and others. Throughout the territory of A. and about. tasmania located state Australian Union .

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Australia

the smallest of the continents, located in the Southern Hemisphere; one of the six parts of the world (usually combined with Oceania). The name Australia originated in ancient times. Even then, among geographers, there was a conviction that there was a presence in the South. hemisphere Terra Australis Incognita - unknown south. earth. In the process of searching for a hypothetical continent, Ter. modern Australia, originally called New Holland. Held in 1772–75 second circumnavigation of J. cook did not confirm the existence of the alleged south. land, and the name Australia remained free. This was taken advantage of by the English hydrographer Flinders, who in 1814 proposed to rename New Holland into Australia, and 10 years later this name was already on all geographical maps.
In the west and south, Australia is washed by the Indian Ocean, in the north by the Arafura and Timor Seas of the Indian Ocean, and in the east by the Tasman and Coral Seas of the Pacific Ocean. The extreme points of the mainland: in the north - Cape York, 10 ° 41 S. sh.; in the south - Cape Yugo-Vostochny, 39°11 S sh.; to the west - Cape Steep Point, 113°05 E d.; on the east - Cape Byron, 153 ° 34 in. The shores are poorly dissected, large bays: Carpentaria in the north and the Great Australian in the south. In the north there are two large peninsulas: Arnhemland and Cape York. Pl. mainland 7631.5 thousand km², with adjacent islands (Tasmania, Kangaroo, Melville, etc.) 7704.5 thousand km². The length of Australia from north to south is 3200 km, from west to east 4100 km. Along the east Coast for 2300 km stretches the Great Barrier Reef.
The basis of the mainland is the ancient Australian platform, which passes into the East Australian fold belt. Wed high over at m - 215 m, plains prevail, up to 95% of the surface lies below 600 m. Highest point - Mt. Kosciuszko(2228 m) is located in Australian Alps. On the west of the mainland lies a high plateau. 400–500 m with ridges and mesas, cf. parts - lowland from the lake. Air in the center. Australia has deposits of hard and brown coal, iron ore, copper, bauxite, polymetallic, titanium and uranium ores, gold, diamonds (see. Australian diamond province), oil and natural gas.
Most of Australia lies in the tropics, S. in equatorial latitudes, and South in subtropical latitudes. On 2/3 ter. (in the central part of the mainland) desert and semi-desert climate. In the north, the climate is equatorial, monsoonal, hot, with summer rains; to the southwest - subtropical, with prevailing precipitation in winter. Vost. The coast is characterized by a hot tropical maritime climate with maximum rainfall in the summer. Wed the temperature in January is from 20 to 30 ° C, in July - from 12 to 20 ° C. Precipitation decreases from east to west (from 1,500 to 250 mm per year or less). Major rivers: Murray with tributary Darling, Flinders. Australia is characterized by the so-called. Creeks are rivers that fill with water only after heavy rains. Up to 60% ter. is the area of ​​internal flow. More than 30 large artesian basses are known on the Australian mainland. total square. OK. 4800 thousand km², which play an important role in water supply.
The Great Sandy Desert, the Great Victoria Desert, the Gibson Desert, and others extend over the vast interior spaces of the continent. There are many salt lakes here. Around the deserts - a belt of semi-deserts with thickets of thorny bushes of acacia and eucalyptus. To S., V. and Yu.-V. deserts turn into savannahs; forests of eucalyptus, palm trees and tree ferns grow along the coasts and in the mountains. There are no ungulates, primates and predatory animals in Australia, but there are many feral dogs, pigs and rabbits that were once brought here by settlers. Among endemic species there are many marsupials: kangaroo, marsupial mole, marsupial wolf, wombats, etc. Only in Australia are egg-laying mammals: platypus and echidna. Of the birds are characteristic: emu, cassowaries, cockatoo parrots, etc. Among the nat. parks and reserves: Mount Buffalo, Kosciuszko, Wilsons Promortory, etc.
On the whole ter. Australia together with Fr. Tasmania is located in the Commonwealth of Australia.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Under the editorship of prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006 .

Australia

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN UNION
A state on the mainland of Australia, which, together with the nearby island of Tasmania, forms the Commonwealth of Australia. The continent in the north is washed by the Timor Sea, the Arafura Sea and the Torres Strait; in the east by the Coral Sea and the Tasman Sea; in the south - the Bass Strait and the Indian Ocean; to the west by the Indian Ocean. The total area of ​​the country is 7682292 km2 (the area of ​​the continent is 7614500 km2). The Union also owns the Cartier and Ashmore Islands, Christmas Island, the Cocos Islands, as well as the Heard, McDonald and Norfolk Islands. There are no high mountain ranges in Australia, the average height above sea level is only 300 m. In the east, the coastal valley is separated from the central part of the country by the Great Dividing Range, the average height of which is about 1200 m. The ridge stretches from the Cape York Peninsula in the north to Victoria in the south -east. Parts of the range have local names: New England Plateau, Blue Mountains. Australian Alps. The highest point of the Australian Alps - Mount Kosciuszko (2228 m) - is also the highest point in Australia. Part of the Great Dividing Range is located on the island of Tasmania. The western part of the continent is a huge plateau from 300 to 450 m above sea level. There are three Australian deserts on the Great Western Plateau:
Great Sandy, Great Victoria Desert and Gibson Desert. There are also low mountain ranges. The center of the country is occupied by vast plains between the Great Dividing Range and the Great Western Plateau. Along the southern coast of Australia, the almost deserted Nullarbor Plain stretches, with a huge number of caves and tunnels. Extinct volcanic craters are located in the southeastern part of the country. The main rivers of Australia are located in the eastern part of the continent. The rivers flowing to the east are Burdekin, Fitzroy and Hunter. Australia's largest river is the Murray (Murray), which, together with its main tributary, the Darling River, stretches for 5,300 km. The rivers of the center of the country and the western part dry up during the dry season. Most of Australia's natural lakes are saline. In the south there is a whole network of salt lakes: Eyre, Torrens, Frome, Gairdner - these are the remains of a large inland sea, which in ancient times stretched from the Gulf of Carpentaria. Australia's largest freshwater lake is the man-made Lake Argyle.
The population of the country (estimated in 1998) is about 18,613,000 people, the average population density is about 2.4 people per km2. Ethnic groups: Europeans - 95% (mainly British and Irish), Asians (including immigrants from the Middle East) - 4%, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders - 1.5%. Language: English (state), Aboriginal languages. Religion: Catholics - 26%, Anglican Church - 26%, Protestants - 20% (United Church, Baptist Union, Lutheran Church and Church of Christ), Orthodox Church - 4%, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims. The capital is Canberra. Largest cities: Sydney (3590000 people), Melbourne (3094000 people), Brisbane (1450000 people), Perth (1220000 people), Adelaide (1039000 people), Canberra (303000 people). The state structure is a democratic federal state. The head of state - Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain - is represented by Governor General William Dean (since February 1996). The head of government is Prime Minister D. Howard (since March 1996). The monetary unit is the Australian dollar. Average life expectancy (for 1998): 75 years - men, 81 years - women. The birth rate (per 1,000 people) is 13.5. Mortality rate (per 1000 people) - 6.9.
The first inhabitants of Australia were Aborigines who migrated to the continent about 40,000 years ago. Although Chinese, Malay, Indonesian and Arab navigators may have landed on the northern coast of Australia before 1000 AD, the West learned about it only in the 17th century. Until that time, Australia existed as the mythical land of Terra Australia, which was searched for by many navigators. The Dutch were the first to discover the continent at the beginning of the 17th century, however, due to the remoteness of Australia, a complete study was completed only at the beginning of the 19th century by the British. Australia has long been considered an unattractive place for colonization, but with the loss of North America, Great Britain decided to organize convict settlements in Australia, so the first permanent settlers of Australia were criminals and their jailers. By 1830, Great Britain subjugated the entire continent, and the first free settlers appeared in Australia. On January 1, 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed. In 1967, civil rights were granted to Australian Aborigines. Australia is a member of the UN and all the specialized agencies of this organization. British Commonwealth of Nations, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The climate of Australia differs dramatically depending on the region. The climate is tropical in the north, temperate in the south. The tropical region, which covers about 40% of Australia, has two seasons: a hot and humid period (rains in February and March) and a warm and dry period. The average monthly summer temperature in northern and central Australia ranges from 27° C to 29° C. South Australia has four seasons. January and February are the warmest months and the average temperature ranges from 18°C ​​to 21°C. The coldest months are June and July. The average temperature in July is about 10°C, and in the Australian Alps - 2°C. It rains almost at any time of the year, however, the wettest months are summer. Some regions experience periods of drought every year (resulting in wildfires, one of the most serious occurred in 1994 in the state of New South Wales) or floods. The Australian continent has a rather expressive vegetation, characteristic only for it: out of 22 thousand species of plants in Australia, about 90% are found only here. About 840 species are on the verge of extinction, and 83 plant species were destroyed during the colonization of the continent. About 2 thousand species of plants were introduced. Most Australian plants are evergreen. Tropical forests grow in the northeast of the country, as well as deciduous ones. Palm trees and ferns grow along with oak, ash, birch. On the northern coast are mangroves. Telopea truncated and other Australian plants add color to the boreal forests. Huon pine and King William pine grow along the east coast and in Tasmania, providing valuable timber. In the forests of the southeast and southwest, eucalyptus dominates, of which there are more than 500 species, individual trees reach a height of 90 m. In Western Australia, eucalyptus species grow, which are distinguished by hardness and durability of wood. Especially a lot of wild flowers in the region. More than 500 species of acacia also grow in Australia: the flower of the golden Australian acacia is the national flower of the country and is depicted on its coat of arms. The fauna of Australia is no less diverse and unique. Seven families of mammals and four families of birds live only in Australia. About 70% of birds, 88% of reptiles and 94% of frogs are unique to Australia. However, 7 out of more than 700 Australian bird species and 19 mammal species have been wiped out; 36 bird species and 49 mammal species are threatened with extinction. One of the surprising features of Australia is the absence of representatives of most of the units represented on other continents. However, in Australia, egg-laying mammals are found in large numbers - the platypus, an aquatic mammal covered with fur and having a beak similar to a duck; echidna, or spiny anteater. Most of the local mammals are marsupials, the most famous of which are kangaroos, of which there are about 50 species: the largest representatives are the large red kangaroo and the real gray kangaroo, jumping up to 9 meters in length; wallabies and kangaroo rats are the smallest representatives. Some marsupials also live on the trees: opossum and koala. Famous marsupials include wombats, Australian bandy-coots, marsupial mice. A rare predator lives on the island of Tasmania - the marsupial devil. One of the typical Australian animals is the dingo. Reptiles are also quite widely represented: among them there are two types of crocodile, one of which - the crested crocodile - reaches a length of 6 m; 500 1 species of lizards, among which gecko, skink, monitor lizard stand out. There are about 100 species of venomous snakes in Australia, of which the taipan in the north, the Australian tiger snake and viper in the south, the magnificent Australian copperhead snake and the black snake in other regions stand out. Coastal waters are home to a large number of marine animals: in the south there are several species of whales, and in some parts of the southern coast - seals, in northern waters - dugong, trepang. A fairly large number of dangerous animals live in the coastal waters of Australia: about 70 species of sharks, including the black shark and reef shark; Australian jellyfish - sea wasp - one touch of which can end tragically; sea ​​snake, reaching 3 m in length and whose bite is deadly; warty fish and blue octopus. Among insects, giant termites are especially notable, and giant earthworms in Victoria are the largest in the world (from 0.9 to 3.7 m in length). There are more than 700 species of birds on the continent: emu, cassowary, kookaburra with a creepy laugh, lyrebird, a large number of parrots and cockatoos, black swans, thin-billed petrel and many others.
Among the natural attractions of Australia, Uluru National Park stands out, where Uluru is located - the largest monolith in the world - 348 m high and 9 km in girth; the Great Barrier Reef - the largest coral formation in the world - stretching for 2010 km; Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory; Magnetic Island National Park; Near the city of Perth, tens of thousands of wild flowers bloom in the bush from September to November, attracting numerous tourists.
Australia has a wide variety of museums and galleries. The Australian Museum (opened in 1827) in Sydney has a rich collection of exhibits from the fields of natural history and anthropology; Sydney also houses the National Maritime Museum. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Applied Arts and Science. Nicholson Museum of Antiquities. The National Gallery of Victoria, located in Melbourne, contains an interesting exhibition of European and Australian artists. Also known are the Art Gallery of South Australia in Adelaide; Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth. In Queensland - the famous herbarium; Museum of Victoria. Royal Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium in Melbourne. Other attractions include the following: in Fremantle, the oldest city in Australia, magnificent examples of colonial architecture; in Perth - Anglican and Catholic cathedrals; in Adelaide, the Anglican Cathedral of St. Peter, Catholic Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier, in Ballarat - a restored city of gold miners from the middle of the 19th century; in Melbourne, the Cathedral of St. Patrick's, Royal Mint, James Cook Memorial in Fitzroy Gardens. Adelaide hosts an annual Formula 1 race at the Australian Grand Prix; in Melbourne - the Australian Open Tennis Championship, part of the Grand Slam series. Sydney has a large number of parks, including Hyde Park, Royal National Park, Taronga Zoo. Attracts tourists and the small town of Broken Hill, which is a city of artists; there are several contemporary art galleries in Broken Hill. The main resort towns of Australia are located on the east coast: Townsville, Tuyeumba and the most popular one is the Gold Coast, the famous marine park with sharks and dolphins, a casino, excellent conditions for surfing.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

Country information Australia

The area of ​​the mainland of the same name, on which Australia is located, is 7.7 million square kilometers. The capital of the country is the city of Canberra with a population of 310 thousand people. Local time is ahead of Moscow by 7 hours.

Geography of Australia

The Australian mainland, located on the Indo-Australian Plateau, is washed by the Indian and Pacific oceans. Australia is the smallest continent, sometimes it is also called the largest island. However, by the size of its territory, the country of Australia ranks 6th in the world. In addition to the mainland, the state also includes nearby islands: Tasmania, Cocos Islands, Christmas Island and others.

The relief of the country is mainly represented by deserts and lowlands. Mountains can be seen only in the east of the mainland, this is the Great Dividing Range. The highest point on the continent is Mount Kosciuszko, with a height of 2,228 m. The largest coral reef on the planet, the Great Barrier Reef, is located off the eastern coast of Australia.

Government of Australia

Australia is a country with a constitutional parliamentary monarchy. The Governor-General rules on behalf of the Queen of Great Britain.

Legislative power is represented by a bicameral parliament, which includes the Queen in the person of the Governor-General. The government is formed from the lower house of parliament and is headed by the prime minister.

Australia weather

Australia's climate is very diverse. In the north, subequatorial climate prevails, in the central and western parts - tropical desert and continental, and the Mediterranean climate is typical for the south and east. Precipitation falls mainly in winter. In the northern part of the continent, the average annual temperature is + 20-24 °C, in the south - January - 23-27 °C, June - 12-14 °C. The best time to visit Australia is from May to August.

Australian language

The official language of Australia is English, but along with it, 40 more languages ​​​​are recognized and used in the country, including Italian, Chinese, German, Greek and numerous local dialects.

Religion in Australia

There is no official religion in the country; it is forbidden by its constitution to impose any religious views on citizens. However, more than 73% of the population identify themselves as Christians, including 26% Catholics and 24% Anglicans.

Australian currency

The Australian dollar - AUD code, $ sign - is the 6th most used currency in the world. There are 100 cents in 1 dollar.

Currency exchange offices can be found in restaurants and hotels, but banks offer the best exchange rates. You can pay for purchases and services with almost any international card. To cash travelers checks, you will have to pay a large commission.

The Australian dollar is issued in the form of plastic banknotes and coins, there are coins in 5, 10, 20, 50 cents and 1.2 dollars. Banknotes come in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100.

Customs restrictions

It is allowed to import duty-free into the country (persons over 16):
• up to 1 liter of alcohol
• up to 250 grams of tobacco products.

The following goods are subject to mandatory declaration:
• animals, plants and products derived from them. Australia has a strict procedure for importing protected animals and plants.
• weapon
• drugs containing narcotic substances and steroids.

It is forbidden to import food.

There are no strict restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency. An amount of money imported in excess of 5,000 Australian dollars is subject to declaration. Leaving the country, you must pay a tax equal to 27 AUD (for persons over 12 years old).

Tips

It is customary in Australia to leave a tip for services rendered. So in cafes and restaurants "leave a tip" 10% of the bill, porters in the hotel are given a dollar, and taxi drivers - a trifle.

Office Hours

On weekdays, shops open at 9 a.m. and work until 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays until 12:00 p.m., Sunday is a day off. Banks are open on weekdays from 09:30 to 16:00, on Saturdays until 12:00.

National features of Australia

Traditions

When going to Australia, you need to know that there are restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages and smoking in the country. So alcohol can be purchased 6 days a week (Monday - Saturday), from 5 pm to 12 am. Smoking in public places is strictly prohibited, many establishments have restrictions on smoking.

General information

Country info

The only country in the world that occupies the territory of an entire continent of the same name, as well as about. Tasmania and adjacent islands. The country is located in the southern and eastern hemispheres, washed by the seas of the Pacific and Indian oceans. In the north it is washed by the Timor, Arafura Seas and the Torres Strait, in the east - by the Coral and Tasman Seas, in the south - by the Bass Strait and the Indian Ocean, in the west - by the Indian Ocean. The coastline is slightly indented. Australia is a continent of deserts, semi-deserts and dry woodlands, occupying vast inland spaces, only on the east coast of the country rises a low mountain range of the Great Dividing Range with the country's highest point - Kosciuszko (2228 m.). Along the east coast, a cluster of small islands, underwater heights and coral reefs stretches for almost 2000 km - the Great Barrier Reef. The total area of ​​the country is about 7.7 million square meters. km.
The length of the coastline is 25,760 km. Along the northeast coast of Australia, in the Coral Sea, stretches the Great Barrier Reef, which is 2,500 km long.

In the center australia there is a vast zone of lowlands, most of which are the basins of the Murray (Murray) River and Lake Eyre, as well as the Nullarbor Plain. In the west of the country is the Great Western Plateau with four deserts: the Great Victoria Desert, the Great Sandy Desert, the Gibson Desert and the Simpson Desert. very poor in fresh water. The main part of the rivers is located in the east: the Murray (Murray), Darling and others. The rivers located in the center and in the west of the country dry up during the summer season. Most of Australia's lakes are salty. The largest Lake Eyre with a water level below sea level (-12 m) is no exception.

On the coat of arms australia depicted are not predatory lions and eagles, but peaceful kangaroos and emus. The reason is not only that the latter are an Australian exclusive - they are not found on other continents. The main thing is that neither the ostrich nor the kangaroo can walk backward: in order to move in the opposite direction, they must turn around and go forward again. The inability to retreat is the main feature of the Australians, or Azzies, as they call themselves.
You are unlikely to taste the meat of a lion or an eagle anywhere, but kangaroo or emu - please, they are served in almost every Australian restaurant. Exotic dishes can be enjoyed even at a height of 300 meters, offering a breathtaking view of Sydney. The motto of the revolving restaurant at the top of the TV tower is "all you can eat". Can you really sit at a table, munching on delicacies, when the landscape behind the glass is changing every minute: squares, fountains and monuments are floating, streets, squares and intersections are sliding, the roofs of Sydney skyscrapers are moving. You don’t know what to grab onto - either the camera or the fork.

AT australia- unique flora and fauna. One of the local plants is eucalyptus, which has about 700 species here. Other plants are: Australian locust, banksia, telopea, horsetail and tea tree. Endemic animals of Australia are: kangaroo, koala, emu, platypus, opossum, echidna, wombat and dingo. There are also many interesting bird species here, such as the cockatoo parrot, kookaburra. The fauna ranges from Australian spiders, snakes (tiger, copperhead, death and red-bellied) to saltwater and river crocodiles. There are more than 500 national parks in the country, in various regions of the country: tropical forests, deserts, mountains and along the coasts.

Australian seasons are the opposite of European and North American seasons: summer begins in December, autumn in March, winter in June, and spring in September. Tem temperature fluctuations are not so strong, except in deserts, where the heat of the day is replaced by a sharp cold at night. The temperature in most of the country, with the exception of mountainous areas, rarely drops below zero. The further north you go, the smaller the difference between the seasons becomes, but summers are warmer and wetter than winters. Darwin, in the far north of the country, is in the monsoon belt and therefore has two seasons: hot and humid (when floods often occur) and hot and dry.

Tourists often come to the southern states during the summer months, but the best time to visit is the beginning of the season, the end of spring - the beginning of summer and the end of the season, the end of summer - the beginning of autumn, since the weather in the south is mild at this time. It is still warm in Queensland at this time, it is not so humid in the north, and there are few insects in the bush. In the spring, if there is a lot of rain, the country is extraordinarily beautiful, as many wild flowers bloom.

Capital

Canberra is the capital of Australia(Union of Australia), the administrative, scientific and cultural center of the state. Together with the suburbs, it forms the Australian Capital Territory, which is an independent administrative unit. The area of ​​the capital is 298 km2, with suburbs - 2370 km2. Translated from the language of the natives, this word means "meeting place."

One of the cities in the world most frequently visited by tourists from abroad. The excursion program of the guests of the capital of Australia usually includes viewing museum expositions and visiting excellent restaurants and shops. In Canberra, tourists are given the opportunity to get acquainted with the work of Australian aborigines: performances by original theater and dance groups always attract the attention of city guests.

In restaurants Canberra- a wide range of dishes from fish, sea mollusks, kangaroo meat, vegetables seasoned with specific spicy sauces. Here you can try a traditional Australian dish made from barracuda.

In the capital's stores, you can buy products made from the famous Australian wool, natural cosmetics made on the basis of avocados, and wealthy tourists will be offered jewelry with inserts of Australian diamonds of various shades. Most Canberra shops are open daily, seven days a week.
At the end of January, the city hosts celebrations dedicated to the national day of Australia.

It was founded as a compromise in the struggle between the two cultural and economic centers of the country, Sydney and Melbourne, for the title of the capital of Australia. Canberra is a city of order, it was originally built according to a certain scheme, and today it surprises everyone with its thoughtful and accurate layout.

Geographically the capital australia located in the middle between Melbourne and Sydney, at the foot of the mountains. The city is not located near the sea, unlike other major cities in the country, this is one of the factors that determine the quieter and more relaxed pace of life in Canberra.

Religion

39% of the population belongs to the Anglican Church, 20.7% - Catholic, 9.8% - Presbyterian, 11.5% - Methodical, 7.1% - Christian.

Population

Australian population is about 20 million people; about 78% are descendants of immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland, the rest are mainly emigrants from other European countries. Average life expectancy in Australia: men - 74 years, women - 81 years (1995).

Indigenous Australians- Aborigines - there are several tens of thousands of people (no more than 80 thousand). The bulk of them live in reservations located in the western and northern regions of the country, the least suitable for human life.

Before the Europeans arrived on the mainland, Indigenous Australians lived mainly in the southeastern and southern coastal areas. australia, the best in climatic conditions, richer in game and fish.

Wood and stone were the only materials from which they made their simple tools. Indigenous people australia never engaged in cattle breeding, since only kangaroos were among the large mammals on the mainland. They did not know agriculture either. However, the natives were wonderful hunters, fishermen, gatherers of herbs and roots.

Aborigines are very musical people. Indigenous Australians perform their original dances in an interesting and original way.

Settling in australia, white colonists tried to turn the natives into slaves, to use their labor on farms. But the natives preferred to live in the old way. Driven by white settlers to desert areas australia, the natives tried to hunt the sheep that the colonists began to breed. This served as a pretext for the mass destruction of the indigenous people. They were rounded up, poisoned with poisons, driven into the desert, where they died of hunger and lack of water.

As a result, at the end of the XIX century. indigenous people in australia decreased by almost 10 times.

And now the natives are just as disenfranchised as before. They do not have the right to participate in the public life of the country, they cannot go to eat in a cafe, drink juice or coffee. The indigenous population is completely deprived of medical care, so the mortality among them is very significant.

Aboriginal people living near cities work as day laborers in the most difficult and dirty jobs. Among the indigenous Australians there are talented artists and sculptors. They are very capable of languages, easily learn English - the official language of Australia.

Aboriginal daily life has changed little over the millennia. So far in the interior australia Aborigines live in conditions of the Stone Age. And now, armed with wooden spears and stone axes, they wander from place to place, picking up everything that is more or less edible. Their locations are well known. Usually they are located on sandy hills close to the water, but as far as possible from the swamps, which are teeming with mosquitoes, mosquitoes and flies.

Aboriginal people build temporary dwellings. When the wind is cold, they rake up the sand from the windward side and sit in this recess near the smoldering fire. Why the extra hassle if the next morning you need to go to another place?

In the rainy season, to protect against dampness and cold, the natives build more durable huts from poles. These poles are covered with tree bark. These huts are easy to rebuild. They are spacious, protect from rain and wind, can stand the whole rainy season.

Language

English. In addition to it, there are Italian, Greek, German, Chinese and dialects of the indigenous population.

Currency

Australian dollar (AUD) is equal to 100 cents. In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars, coins of 1, 2 dollars, as well as 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents. It is better to exchange money in banks, their branches at the airport or Thomas Cook and American Express exchange offices. Somewhat less favorable rate in the exchange offices of hotels. All major international credit cards are accepted, Visa cards can withdraw no more than $500 at a time, Visa Premier cards - no more than $2500. For cashing traveler's checks, usually up to 15% is charged. There is an extensive network of ATMs. In small private stores, especially in the provinces, payment by plastic cards is often not possible.

Average weighted exchange rate 1USD=1.9AUD

The Australian currency is the Australian dollar, which has the international designation AUD, and cents serve as a bargaining chip. There are 5 banknotes in circulation worth $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and 6 coins worth 5s, 10s, 20s, 50s, $1, $2. A period usually separates dollars from cents, while thousands are separated by a comma, such as $10,234.00.

The main banks are ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Westpac. These banks are open on Mondays - Thursdays from 9.30 to 16.00 and until 17.00 on Fridays. Saturday until noon, St. George Bank.

Timezone

Time in Sydney ahead of Moscow in winter by 7 hours, in summer - by 8. In addition, the time also varies from state to state, where half an hour is sometimes added to standard time.

Divided into three time zones: time in Sydney is ahead of Moscow by + 6-8 hours.
South Australia and the Northern Territory are 30 minutes behind, Western Australia is 2 hours behind (to the time difference above).

Excursion into history

From ancient times Australia inhabited by natives who appeared on the continent about 40 thousand years ago. Probably Chinese, Indonesian, Malay and Arab navigators moored to the northern shores of the continent before 1000. But the entire Western world learned about Australia only in the 17th century.

It was assumed that there is a mythical Southern continent, which should balance the mass of the earth of the northern hemisphere. In the Middle Ages, it was known as the "Unknown Southern Land", which in Latin sounds like "Terra Australia incognita". Many great navigators sought to find her.

visited Australia the Dutch V. Janszon in 1606 and A. Tasman in 1642, but they were not on the eastern shores, and the discovery did not seem promising to them. In 1768 Captain James Cook, on instructions from the British government, went to the Pacific Ocean to conduct scientific observations of the passage of Venus between the Earth and the Sun. He also received a secret mission to find "Terra Australis Incognito". Captain Cook coped with the task, and in April 1770 his ship "Endeavor" ("Endeavour") anchored in Botany Bay (Botany Bay). Then James Cook explored the east coast, which he called New South Wales, mapped it and proclaimed it the property of the English King George 3.

However, interest in new lands arose later. In the 18th century, there were two capital punishments in Great Britain: the death penalty and expulsion from the country to which it was sometimes replaced. America served as the place of deportation, but after gaining independence in 1783, she refused to accept English prisoners. It became necessary to find a new place, since the prisons of England were very soon overcrowded. This situation was the impetus for the settlement of Australia. So, in 1787, the First Fleet, led by the first Governor-General Arthur Phillip, prepared to sail. Phillip had at his disposal 750 prisoners and 220 sailors and officers with their wives and children. Arthur Phillip liked the natural port that James Cook named Port Jackson. Here the arrivals landed and began to build a settlement that laid the foundation for Sydney. On January 26, 1788, the creation of the new colony of New South Wales was officially announced. In 1793, the first free settlers arrived. Until the middle of the 19th century, the development of australia: new lands are explored, settlements and colonies are founded, entrepreneurs appear in the field of industry and agriculture. Management institutions are gradually formed, political and social life appears. The discovery of the richest gold deposits in the middle of the 19th century attracted masses of immigrants to Australia and gave a significant impetus to the development of industry and the further development of the continent.

1On September 7, 1900, Australia proclaimed its desire for independence from England, and in 1901 the colonies were unified (now the states) to the Commonwealth of Australia, the first federal elections and the first census were held. In 1908, the construction of the first capital, the city of Canberra, began, where in 1927 the government moved from Melbourne. participated in the First World War as part of the Allied forces. On April 25, 1915, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed at Cape Gallipoli in Turkey, where more than 10,000 people died. This day has become a day of remembrance and mourning.

It gained independence in 1931. Member of the UN since 1945. Australian aborigines received rights only in 1967.

During the Second World War, Australian troops took part in the battles in Asia, and itself actually turned into an American naval base, which greatly contributed to the "Americanization of the country." The post-war development of Australia was marked by further economic growth, new waves of immigration, and the intensification of social and political life.

Australia Square. 7682292 km2 (the area of ​​the continent is 7631500 km2).

Australian population. 23.80 million people (

Australian GDP. $1.454 trillion (

Location of Australia. a state on the mainland of Australia. Together with the nearby island, Tasmania forms the Commonwealth of Australia. In the north it is washed by, and the Torres Strait, in the east - and, in the south - by the Bass Strait and, in the west - by the Indian Ocean. The Union also owns the islands of Cartier, Ashmore, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Heard Island, McDonald, Norfolk.

Administrative divisions of Australia. The state is divided into 6 states and 2 territories.

Australian form of government. Federal parliamentary democracy.

Head of State Australia. The Queen, represented by the Governor General.

Australia's highest legislature. Parliament (Senate and House of Representatives).

Australia's highest executive. Government.

Major cities in Australia. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide.

State language of Australia. English.

Religion in Australia. 26% - Anglicans, 26% - followers of the Roman Church, 24% - followers of other Christian denominations.

Ethnic composition of Australia. 92% -, 7% - Asians, 1% - Aborigines.

Australian currency. Australian dollar = 100 cents.

On the one hand, the country retains the influence of English culture, sometimes manifested in restraint, stiffness, puritanism, on the other hand, many observers note the similarity between Australia and California, which manifests itself in love of life, freedom of morals, and the habit of spending most of the time outdoors. Australians are friendly with foreigners. They are extremely concise, consider brevity a wonderful quality. Business proposals should be stated simply, concisely, one should not go into details. When describing a product, be honest about its pros and cons. The offer price should not be overstated. In the tradition of most Australians - a relaxed style of dress. But for business meetings, visits to concert halls and the best restaurants, of course, you need an appropriate suit.