Leslie Massey
Australia is the smallest continent in the world, 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. There are 14 independent countries and 12 dependent territories in the region. The largest sovereign state is Australia, occupying about 86% of the region's total area. The smallest independent country is Nauru, which is so small that it takes less than an hour to drive around. Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country that comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania, with a diverse landscape and climate ranging from tropical rainforests to arid deserts.
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What You'll Learn
Australia is a continent and a country
Australia is a country and a continent. It is the smallest of the world's seven continents, surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is also the sixth-largest country in the world by area, covering approximately 7.69 million square kilometres, or 86% of the region of Australia and Oceania.
The Australian continent includes the mainland, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is geographically diverse, with landscapes ranging from tropical rainforests to arid desert regions. The Australian continent also includes the island of New Guinea, comprising Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea, as well as the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and most of the Coral Sea Islands.
Australia, the country, is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. It is highly urbanised, with a population of nearly 28 million people, and is known for its cultural diversity and high quality of life. The country has a strong economy, driven by its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations.
The term Oceania, originally a "great division" of the world, was replaced by the concept of Australia as a continent in English-speaking countries during the 1950s. This led to some confusion, as the continent of Australia and the country of Australia share the same name. However, it is important to note that the continent of Australia is distinct from the country of Australia, which comprises the majority of the continent.
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New Zealand is an island country
New Zealand has a varied topography, ranging from spectacular caves and deep glacier lakes to dazzling fjords and long sandy beaches. The country also boasts the spectacular snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, which divide the South Island and contribute to its extensive ice-age glaciation. The North Island is less mountainous but is marked by volcanism. The country's unique array of vegetation and animal life, including the long-beaked, flightless kiwi, is due in part to its prolonged isolation.
New Zealand has a unicameral parliamentary system, with legislative authority vested in an elected parliament, and executive political power exercised by the government, led by the prime minister. The country is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes. The Realm of New Zealand also includes dependent territories and self-governing states in free association with New Zealand, such as the Cook Islands and Niue.
New Zealand was one of the last sizable territories suitable for habitation to be populated and settled. Polynesians were the first people to reach New Zealand, believed to have arrived in several waves between 1280 and 1350 CE. The country was annexed by Great Britain in 1840 and subsequently became a crown colony, a self-governing colony, and a dominion. Despite its isolation, New Zealand has been engaged in international affairs since the early 20th century, participating in World Wars I and II and becoming an active member of intergovernmental institutions such as the United Nations.
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Papua New Guinea is a country on the continent
The continent of Australia and Oceania, also known as Australasia, is the smallest continent in the world. It is surrounded by the Indian, Southern, and Pacific Oceans. The continent includes the Australian mainland, large islands such as New Zealand, Tasmania, and New Guinea, as well as thousands of smaller tropical islands in the Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia regions.
New Guinea is the world's second-largest island, and only its eastern half is part of the Australasian continent. This eastern half is known as Papua New Guinea (PNG), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. It is an island country in Oceania, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia. The country includes the eastern half of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Bougainville and Buka (part of the Solomon Islands chain), and numerous smaller offshore islands and atolls.
Papua New Guinea has a land border with Indonesia to the west and maritime borders with Australia to the south and the Solomon Islands to the east. The country's geography is diverse, featuring mountainous regions, low-lying plains, lakes, rivers, and volcanoes. The Highlands, a mountainous zone, extend from west to southeast and occupy the central part of the island of New Guinea. The Bismarck Range, part of the Central Range, includes Papua New Guinea's highest point, Mount Wilhelm, which rises to 14,793 feet (4,509 meters).
The country has a population of around 11.8 million, although estimates using satellite data suggest a figure closer to 17 million. The population is highly rural, with only 14% living in urban centers as of 2023. Papua New Guinea is culturally and linguistically diverse, with 840 known spoken languages, making it the most linguistically diverse country in the world. English and Tok Pisin are common languages that help unify the country. The nation gained independence in 1975, and its constitution explicitly protects the persistence of traditional communities and lifestyles.
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Nauru is the smallest independent country
Australia is the smallest of the world's continents, surrounded by the Indian, Southern, and Pacific Oceans. It includes the Australian mainland, large islands like New Zealand, Tasmania, and New Guinea, as well as thousands of smaller islands. The continent is home to 14 independent countries and 12 dependent overseas territories.
The smallest independent country within this region is Nauru, a tiny island nation located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is so small that one can drive around it in under an hour. With an area of only 21 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi), Nauru is the third-smallest country in the world, after Vatican City and Monaco. It is the smallest republic and island nation, as well as the smallest member state of the Commonwealth of Nations by area.
Nauru has a population of about 10,800 people, making it the world's third-least populous country, excluding colonies and overseas territories. The national language is Nauruan, while English is used for business and government. The country has no official capital, but its government offices are located in the district of Yaren, where the sole airport is also situated.
Nauru gained its independence in 1968 and joined the Commonwealth of Nations as a Special Member, becoming a full member in 1999. It is a republic with a parliamentary system of government, and its president is both head of state and head of government. The president is elected by the parliament, which consists of 19 members, all of whom are elected every three years.
Historically, Nauru's economy relied heavily on phosphate mining. This industry dominated the island's economy and provided high-quality exports. However, by the late 20th century, phosphate deposits were dwindling, leading to a severe drop in earnings and near bankruptcy by the early 21st century. Today, Nauru faces economic challenges and depends heavily on foreign aid, with a significant portion of its income coming from aid provided by Australia.
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Tasmania is an Australian island
Australia is a continent that includes the Australian mainland and big islands such as Tasmania, New Zealand, and New Guinea. Tasmania is an Australian island, located around 150 miles (240 km) south of the Australian mainland. It is separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait. Tasmania is the only Australian state not located on the Australian mainland.
Tasmania is the largest island in Australia, with a landmass of 68,401 sq km (26,410 sq mi). The island is around 2,500 km (1,300 nautical miles) south of Antarctica. The state of Tasmania includes the main island of Tasmania, as well as around 1,000 surrounding islands. Tasmania is Australia's smallest state by area and population, with around 573,479 residents as of June 2023. The state capital and largest city is Hobart, with around 40% of the population living in the Greater Hobart area.
Tasmania has a mountainous landscape, with the highest peak on the island, Mount Ossa, reaching 5,305 feet (1,617 meters). The island features several parallel northwest-southeast ridges and valleys in the west, and a series of plateaus at various elevations in the east. The Central Plateau is studded with over 4,000 lakes, and the island has two major river systems: the Derwent in the southeast and the South Esk in the northeast.
Tasmania was initially part of the Colony of New South Wales under British rule. It became a separate colony in 1825, known as Van Diemen's Land. In 1855, the present Constitution of Tasmania was enacted, and the colony changed its name to Tasmania in 1856. In 1901, Tasmania became a founding constituent state of Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a country, not a group of countries. It is the only country on the Australian continent, which is the smallest continent in the world. However, the continent of Australia and Oceania includes the entire Australian mainland, big islands such as New Zealand, Tasmania, and New Guinea, and thousands of smaller islands.
Oceania includes 14 independent countries and 12 dependent territories. Aside from Australia, some of the other independent countries in Oceania are Papua New Guinea, Nauru, and New Zealand.
Australia is the largest country in Oceania, occupying about 86% of the region's total area.
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