Leslie Massey
Australia is a continent and a country that lies between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia's mainland extends from west to east for nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km). The country is known for its global isolation, low relief, and the aridity of its surface. But which hemisphere does Australia fall under, the Eastern or Western Hemisphere? The answer is the Eastern Hemisphere.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hemisphere | Eastern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere |
| Continent | Australia |
| Geographic Region | Oceania |
| Subregion | Australasia |
| Hemisphere Boundary | 0° longitude (Prime Meridian) and 180° longitude (Antimeridian) |
| Longitude Boundaries | 20° W and 160° E |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is in the Eastern Hemisphere
Australia is located in the Eastern Hemisphere. The Eastern Hemisphere is the half of the planet Earth that is east of the prime meridian (which crosses Greenwich, London, in the United Kingdom) and west of the antimeridian (which crosses the Pacific Ocean). The prime meridian at 0° longitude and the antimeridian at 180° longitude are the conventionally accepted boundaries, as they divide eastern longitudes from western longitudes. This convention was established in 1884 at the International Meridian Conference in Washington, D.C.
The Eastern Hemisphere includes the continents of Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. It also includes portions of Western Europe, West Africa, Oceania, and extreme northeastern Russia, which are geographically considered part of "the West" in most geopolitical constructs. To account for this discrepancy, the meridians of 20°W and 160°E are often used to define the Eastern Hemisphere, which includes all of Europe and Africa.
Australia is situated in the geographical region of Oceania, specifically in the subregion of Australasia, and is considered part of the Eastern Hemisphere. It extends from west to east for nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) and is bordered by the Timor and Arafura seas to the northwest, the Coral Sea and the Torres Strait to the northeast, the Coral Sea Islands Territory to the east, and the Tasman Sea to the southeast.
In addition to Australia, several other countries and territories are located entirely or partially within the Eastern Hemisphere. For example, mainland Norway, Svalbard, and Bouvet Island lie entirely within the Eastern Hemisphere, while the United Kingdom, passing through Greenwich, lies mostly in the Western Hemisphere. Similarly, about one-third of France, including cities like Nantes and Bordeaux, lies within the Western Hemisphere, while mainland France is entirely within the Eastern Hemisphere.
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Australia is also in the Southern Hemisphere
Australia is located in the Eastern Hemisphere. The Eastern Hemisphere is the half of the planet Earth that is east of the prime meridian (which crosses Greenwich, London, United Kingdom) and west of the antimeridian (which crosses the Pacific Ocean). It includes Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. Longitudes 20° W and 160° E are often considered its boundaries.
However, Australia is also in the Southern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere includes the entirety of Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica, as well as major parts of South America, about one-third of Africa, and some islands of mainland Asia. The Southern Hemisphere is defined as the half of the Earth that is located south of the equator.
The continent of Australia, sometimes known as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia, consists of the landmasses that sit on Australia's continental plate. This includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea, which comprises Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea. The flora of Australia and New Guinea include conifers Podocarpus and rainforest emergents Araucaria, as well as several species of Eucalyptus.
Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. Its mainland extends from west to east for nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) and from the Cape York Peninsula in the northeast to Wilsons Promontory in the southeast for nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km).
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The Eastern Hemisphere includes Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia
The Eastern Hemisphere refers to the half of the planet Earth that lies east of the prime meridian (which crosses Greenwich, London, United Kingdom) and west of the antimeridian (which crosses the Pacific Ocean). It includes the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, though the hemispheres do not correspond exactly with the continents. Portions of Western Europe, West Africa, and extreme northeastern Russia are in the Western Hemisphere, while some territories in Oceania, such as New Zealand, are part of the Eastern Hemisphere.
The prime meridian at 0° longitude and the antimeridian at 180° longitude are the conventionally accepted boundaries of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, respectively, as they divide eastern longitudes from western longitudes. This convention was established in 1884 at the International Meridian Conference in Washington, D.C. However, some geographers define the Eastern Hemisphere as the half of the Earth that lies east of the Greenwich meridian (0° longitude) and continues to the 180th meridian, which includes longitudes 20°W and 160°E.
The Eastern Hemisphere is also used to refer to Afro-Eurasia (Africa and Eurasia) and Australia, in contrast with the Western Hemisphere, which primarily includes North and South America. The term "Eastern Hemisphere" may also be used in a cultural or geopolitical sense as a synonym for the European term "Old World."
Australia, the smallest continent, is located in the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres. It lies between the Pacific and Indian Oceans and extends from the Cape York Peninsula in the northeast to Wilsons Promontory in the southeast. Australia's jurisdiction includes the island of Tasmania in the south and reaches the southern shores of Papua New Guinea in the north.
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The Western Hemisphere includes North and South America
The Western Hemisphere is the half of the planet Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian, which crosses Greenwich, London, in the United Kingdom. The other half of the planet is called the Eastern Hemisphere. The Western Hemisphere includes North and South America, the eastern Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the majority of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Western Hemisphere is often used as a metonym for the Americas or the "New World". This is despite the fact that geographically, the hemisphere also includes parts of other continents. In addition to the Americas, the Western Hemisphere comprises the westernmost parts of Europe and Africa, both mainland and islands, the extreme eastern tip of the Russian mainland and islands, many territories in Oceania, and a large part of Antarctica.
The centre of the Western Hemisphere is in the Pacific Ocean, at the intersection of the 90th meridian west and the Equator, among the Galápagos Islands. The hemisphere can also be defined as the half of the Earth that lies west of the 20th meridian and east of the 160th meridian. This definition excludes all of the European and African mainlands but includes more of eastern Russia and Oceania, and part of Antarctica.
The continent of Australia, meanwhile, is located within the Southern and Eastern hemispheres, near Maritime Southeast Asia. Australia is sometimes known as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia to differentiate it from the country of Australia. The continent includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, the island of New Guinea, the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, most of the Coral Sea Islands, and some other nearby islands.
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Some countries are in both hemispheres
Australia is located in the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres. The Southern Hemisphere includes the entirety of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, and parts of South America, Africa, and some islands of mainland Asia. The Eastern Hemisphere, on the other hand, includes the land east of the prime meridian and west of the antimeridian, encompassing Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and parts of North and South America.
The division of the Earth into hemispheres is based on the equator, which is the 0° latitude line at the Earth's center, separating the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Additionally, the prime meridian at 0° longitude and the antimeridian at 180° longitude are used to delineate the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
It is worth noting that the continent of Australia is sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia to differentiate it from the country of Australia. This continent includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea, which consists of Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea.
While most countries are situated primarily in one hemisphere, there are a few nations that span multiple hemispheres. For instance, the island nation of Kiribati is the only country situated in all four hemispheres. This unique distinction is due to the 32 atolls of Kiribati being distributed across the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Hemispheres.
Additionally, several countries straddle the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Indonesia are examples of countries that have territories on both sides of the equator. Equatorial Guinea also has land in both hemispheres, with its mainland and Bioko in the Northern Hemisphere and Annobon Island in the Southern Hemisphere.
Furthermore, some countries are located in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and France have territories in both hemispheres due to their overseas islands or the specific path of the meridian.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia is part of the Eastern Hemisphere.
The Eastern Hemisphere is the half of the planet Earth that is east of the prime meridian, which passes through Greenwich, London, and west of the antimeridian, which crosses the Pacific Ocean.
The Eastern Hemisphere includes Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa.
Australia is part of the Southern Hemisphere. It is not part of the Northern Hemisphere.
