Australia

AUSTRALIAAUSTRALIA

Reesi SirviReesi Sirvi

Important factsImportant facts► Location – Southern Location – Southern

HemisphereHemisphere

►Area - Area - 7 704 366 km2 7 704 366 km2

► Population - 20 750 100 (2006)

► National language – English (de facto)

► Capital – CanberraCapital – Canberra

► Largest city – SidneyLargest city – Sidney

► CurrencyCurrency

The Australian dollarThe Australian dollar► the world's sixth the world's sixth

largest nation after largest nation after Russia, Canada, Russia, Canada, China, the USA and China, the USA and Brazil.Brazil.

GovernmentGovernment► Federal parliamentary Federal parliamentary

democracydemocracy

► Constitutional Constitutional monarchymonarchy

Prime Minister

Kevin Rudd

Governor – General

Quentin Bryce

Queen Elizabeth II

Parliament House in Canberra

The Official residence of the Governor-General of Australia

National SymbolsNational Symbols

►FlagFlag►Coat of arms Coat of arms ►Floral Floral

emblememblem ►National National

ColoursColours►National National

AnthemAnthemGolden wattle

Green and golden

HistoryHistory► Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples inhabited most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples inhabited most

areas areas before European settlersbefore European settlers

► The first recorded European contact The first recorded European contact iin March 1606n March 1606 ► In 1688, William Dampier became the first British explorer to In 1688, William Dampier became the first British explorer to

land on the north west coast.land on the north west coast.

► In In 1770 Captain James Cook1770 Captain James Cook extended a scientific voyage to extended a scientific voyage to the South Pacific in order to further chart the east coast of the South Pacific in order to further chart the east coast of Australia and claim it for the British CrownAustralia and claim it for the British Crown

► About 160 000 men and women were brought to About 160 000 men and women were brought to Australia as convicts from 1788 until penal Australia as convicts from 1788 until penal transportation ended in 1868. transportation ended in 1868.

Lieutenant Cook'sLieutenant Cook's ship ship

Geography Geography ►an islandan island►a continenta continent►a countrya country

► located in the Southern Hemispherelocated in the Southern Hemisphere► has six states – New South Wales, Queensland, South has six states – New South Wales, Queensland, South

Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia ► and two territories – Northern Territory and Australian Capital and two territories – Northern Territory and Australian Capital

TerritoryTerritory►Highest Highest pointpoint Mount Kosciuszko 2,228 m 2,228 m ►Lowest pointLowest point Lake Eyre 1 15 m 5 m ►Longest riverLongest river Murray River►Largest lakeLargest lake Lake Eyre

Flora and faunaFlora and fauna

► 99% land99% landand 1% waterand 1% water

► More than 80 per cent of More than 80 per cent of the country’s flowering the country’s flowering plants, mammals, reptiles plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs are unique to and frogs are unique to AustraliaAustralia

► largest part of Australia is largest part of Australia is

desert desert ► ccovered in rainforest and overed in rainforest and

ferns ferns

Rainforest in Tasmania

► There are 55 different There are 55 different species of kangaroosspecies of kangaroos

► Emu Emu is the second is the second largest surviving species largest surviving species of bird.of bird.

Thank you!Thank you!