Australia
Australia is the only country that is also a continent. In area, Australia ranks as the sixth largest country and smallest continent. Australia is located between the South Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The part of the Indian Ocean that is south of Australia is called the Southern Ocean in the country. Australia is about 7,000 miles (11,000 kilometers) southwest of North America and about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) southeast of mainland Asia. Australia is often referred to as being "down under" because it lies entirely within the Southern Hemisphere. The name Australia comes from the Latin word australis, which means southern. The official name of the country is the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia is a dry, thinly populated land. Only a few areas along or near the coasts receive enough rainfall to support a large population. The southeastern coastal region has the most people by far. Australia's two largest cities--Sydney and Melbourne--lie in this region. Canbe!rra, the national capital, lies only a short distance inland. The huge interior of Australia is mostly desert or dry grassland and has few settlements. The country as a whole averages only six persons per square mile (two persons per square kilometer). Aus
The income from these exports has made it possible for most of the people of Australia to have a high standard of living. Each state elects 12 senators, and each mainland territory elects 2. The Aborigines had lived in Australia for at least 40,000 years before the first white settlers arrived. tralia is famous for its vast open spaces, bright sunshine, enormous numbers of sheep and cattle, and unusual wildlife. Australia also has two mainland territories--the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Membership in the 148-member House of Representatives is divided among the states and mainland territori!es according to population. But Australians have developed a way of life all their own. The leader of the majority party or the coalition heads the government as prime minister. The nation is administered under a written constitution. Britain settled Australia as a prison colony in 1788. Tea is the favorite hot drink in Australia, as it is in Britain. Australia is a constitutional monarchy like Britain. Australia has a parliamentary system of government. English, the official language of Australia, includes many British terms.
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