Lexi Webster
Australia is the smallest continent in the world and is surrounded by the Indian, Southern, and Pacific Oceans. It includes the entire Australian mainland, large islands such as New Zealand, Tasmania, and New Guinea, and thousands of tiny tropical islands scattered throughout the South Pacific. Australia is a relatively prosperous independent country and shares its continent with no other country. The Australian continent comprises 14 independent countries and 12 dependent territories. This text will explore the 20 countries that make up Australia, delving into their unique characteristics, cultural offerings, biodiversity, and more.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Australia is the smallest continent in the world
The continent of 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 (Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea), the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, most of the Coral Sea Islands, and some other nearby islands.
Australia has a wide variety of climates due to its large geographical size. The largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid. The western plateau and a sizable portion of the centre depression are deserts. However, the red and black soil plains of Queensland and New South Wales have long supported the world's greatest wool industry. Australia also has a diverse range of natural features, from towering mountains and winding rivers to expansive wetlands.
Australia is home to the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef ecosystem in the world, located off the northeastern coast of Australia. The continent is also considered a "living laboratory" by biologists who study animals, as it brought a variety of unique species when it separated from Antarctica more than 60 million years ago, including the koala, platypus, and Tasmanian devil.
Australia has six federated states: New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island), Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania (including Macquarie Island), Victoria, and Western Australia. It also has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories (Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and Northern Territory) and seven are external territories.
Border Collie-Aussie Mix: Kid-Friendly Super-Dogs?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Oceania includes 14 countries, such as New Zealand and Fiji
Oceania, also called Australia, is the smallest continent in the world. It is surrounded by the Indian, Southern, and Pacific Oceans. The continent of Oceania includes 14 countries and 12 dependent territories. The continent includes the Australian mainland, large islands such as New Zealand, Tasmania, and New Guinea, and thousands of tiny tropical islands scattered throughout the South Pacific.
The largest country in Oceania, in terms of population and land area, is Australia, occupying about 86% of the region's total area. Sydney is the largest city in the region. The next most populous countries in Oceania are Papua New Guinea (8.4 million) and New Zealand (4.7 million). The population numbers drop quite dramatically after these three countries, as most of the remaining countries are small islands and archipelagos.
The smallest independent country in Oceania is Nauru, which is so tiny that you need less than an hour to drive around it. Other relatively well-known island nations in Oceania with substantial populations are Fiji (912,241) and the Solomon Islands (623,281). New Caledonia, Tonga, and Palau are medium-sized economies in the Pacific Islands.
The countries of Oceania display a wide variety of life expectancies, economic standings, financial markets, overall quality of life, and scores on the Human Development Index. The most developed nations in Oceania are Australia and New Zealand, which the World Bank ranks as high-income countries. In contrast, countries such as Tuvalu and Kiribati are considered middle-income countries.
Australian Cake Baking: Tips and Tricks
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Australia has 6 states and 10 federal territories
Australia is a union of six states and ten federal territories. It is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country by land area. It is sometimes considered the world's largest island. The country is surrounded by the Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans.
The six states of Australia are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. Each state has its own constitution, legislature, executive government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. New South Wales, the ultimate all-rounder destination, is home to Sydney, Australia's largest city. Queensland is known as the 'Sunshine State' and is a sun-loving traveller's paradise. South Australia is famous for its wines and festivals, with Adelaide being regarded as the wine and festival capital of Australia. Tasmania is home to Macquarie Island and Hobart, Australia's second-oldest capital city. Melbourne, Victoria's capital, is Australia's second-largest capital city, known for its cafes and restaurants. Lastly, Western Australia is the largest state in the country, with Perth as its capital. Perth is the only major city on the west coast of Australia, known for its cultural and artistic centres.
The ten federal territories of Australia are divided into three internal territories and seven external territories. The internal territories are the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is home to Canberra, the nation's capital and seat of the Federal Parliament. The Northern Territory is home to Darwin, Australia's most northern capital city. The seven external territories are the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, the Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island.
Animal Ownership: Australia's Perspective
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![National Geographic Road Atlas 2026: Scenic Drives Edition [United States, Canada, Mexico]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/814R4OsGtCL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
![National Geographic Road Atlas 2026: Adventure Edition [United States, Canada, Mexico]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81rRihqWqgL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Australia has no state religion
Australia has no official state religion. Section 116 of the Australian Constitution prohibits federal legislation that would establish any religion, impose any religious observance, or prohibit the free exercise of any religion. However, it is important to note that this section does not prevent the states of Australia from passing religiously discriminatory laws.
The absence of a state religion in Australia means that people are free to choose, express, and practice their religious beliefs without restriction. This freedom includes the right not to profess any religion or belief. Australia's commitment to religious freedom is reflected in its laws and policies, which guarantee the protection of religious rights for all individuals.
Historically, Christianity was the dominant religion in Australia, largely due to the country's colonial history and the "White Australia Policy," which restricted immigration to those of European descent. In 1911, 96% of Australians identified as Christian. However, in recent years, there has been a significant shift towards secularism, with a growing number of people identifying as having no religion. In the 2021 census, 38.9% of Australians reported having no religious affiliation, up from 15.5% in 2001.
While Christianity remains the largest religion in Australia, with 43.9% of the population identifying as Christians in 2021, the country has also witnessed the growth of non-Christian religions. This includes Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Judaism, largely due to non-British immigration since World War II. The Aboriginal peoples of Australia also have their own traditional beliefs, known as "The Dreaming," which are considered some of the earliest evidence of religious practices on Earth.
Australia's approach to religious diversity is evident in its education system, where religious education in public schools covers a range of world faiths and beliefs. Additionally, the country's antidiscrimination laws in all states and territories, except NSW and South Australia, prohibit discrimination based on religious belief. These laws ensure that individuals who suffer religious discrimination have legal recourse through bodies like the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Protect Your Plants: Repel Australian Leaf-Eating Insects
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$23.94 $27.99
Australia is the sixth-largest country by land area
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world by land area. It has a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles) or 7,741,220 square miles according to another source. The country comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is also sometimes considered the world's largest island and is often dubbed the "island continent".
Australia is the smallest of the seven traditional continents. It is the smallest, lowest, flattest, and second-driest continent on Earth. The Australian mainland is relatively flat, with an average height of 325 metres (1,066 ft) compared with 870 metres (2,850 ft) for all continents. The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands. Australia has a population of 27,966,300, making it the 54th most populous country in the world and the most populous Oceanian country.
The continent of Australia, sometimes known as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia, is located within the Southern and Eastern hemispheres, near Maritime Southeast Asia. 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. Australia has six federated states: New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island), Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania (including Macquarie Island), Victoria, and Western Australia.
Australia also has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory on the Australian mainland. The remaining seven are external territories: the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, the Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island.
Flying Time: Australia to LA, How Long?
You may want to see also
