Lyla Lindsey
Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. It is north of Antarctica and south of Papua New Guinea, with Indonesia and East Timor to its northwest. The islands of the Malay Archipelago, north of Australia, are part of Asia. The continent of Australia is distinct from the country of Australia, which is surrounded by several islands and external territories, including Norfolk Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Christmas Island.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Countries North of Australia | Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia |
| Oceania Countries | American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, and the United States Minor Outlying Islands |
| Most Populous Countries in Oceania | Australia (25.9 million), Papua New Guinea (9 million), and New Zealand (4.9 million) |
| Largest Cities in Oceania | Sydney (5.2 million), Melbourne (4.9 million), Brisbane (2.5 million), Perth (2.1 million), and Auckland (1.4 million) |
| Australia's Form of Government | Federal, with a national government for the Commonwealth of Australia and individual state governments |
| Number of States in Australia | 6 (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania) |
| Number of Territories in Australia | 2 internal territories (Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory) and several external territories |
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What You'll Learn
- Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea are north of Australia
- The Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia are north-east of Australia
- The Malay Archipelago is north of Australia
- The Pacific Ocean borders Australia to the north
- The Northern Territory is a northern self-governing territory of Australia
Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea are north of Australia
Indonesia is a vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands in Southeast Asia. It is a presidential republic comprising 34 provinces, with Jakarta as its capital. East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a Southeast Asian country occupying the eastern half of the island of Timor, in the Indonesian archipelago. Papua New Guinea, located just north of Australia, is an Oceanian country encompassing the eastern half of New Guinea and its offshore islands, as well as the western part of the island of New Britain.
Papua New Guinea is one of the most populous countries in Oceania, with 9 million people, while Australia has 25.9 million, and New Zealand 4.9 million. Papua New Guinea gained its independence from Australia in 1975. Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea share a maritime border, and Australia and Papua New Guinea share a land border on the island of New Guinea.
The islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia are considered part of Oceania, with Australia and New Zealand comprising Australasia. The Galápagos Islands, the Juan Fernández Islands, and the Revillagigedo Islands are the easternmost areas of Oceania. The Pacific Ocean is seen as unifying the region, with its islands and archipelagos bordering upon it.
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The Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia are north-east of Australia
Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu, is an island country in Melanesia, located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is 1,750 km (1,090 mi) east of northern Australia, 540 km (340 mi) northeast of New Caledonia, east of New Guinea, southeast of the Solomon Islands, and west of Fiji. Vanuatu has a total area of roughly 12,274 square kilometres (4,739 sq mi), of which its land surface is very limited (roughly 4,700 square kilometres (1,800 sq mi)). The country has a tropical climate, with about nine months of warm to hot rainy weather and the possibility of cyclones, and three to four months of cooler, drier weather.
New Caledonia is an island country in the Pacific Ocean, located to the northeast of Australia. It is part of the Australasian realm, which includes Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. New Caledonia produces timber, sawn wood, and wood products for domestic consumption and export, and mineral production is limited to a few islands.
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The Malay Archipelago is north of Australia
The Malay Archipelago, the largest group of islands in the world, is located north of Australia. The archipelago consists of more than 13,000 islands of Indonesia and approximately 7,000 islands of the Philippines. The regional name "East Indies" is sometimes used as a synonym for the archipelago. New Guinea is usually included in the Malay Archipelago, though there are arguments for excluding it for cultural and geographical reasons. The islands of the archipelago mainly lie on the continental shelf of Asia, and their inhabitants have been exposed to mainland Asian culture due to their closer proximity.
The term "Malay Archipelago" was used by the 19th-century naturalist Alfred Wallace as the title of his influential book documenting his studies in the region. He proposed what would become known as the "Wallace Line," a boundary that separated the flora and fauna of Asia and Australia. The ice age boundary was formed by the deep water straits between Borneo and Sulawesi and through the Lombok Strait between Bali and Lombok. This is now considered the western border of the Wallacea transition zone between the zoogeographical regions of Asia and Australia.
The flora and fauna of the archipelago are extremely rich and varied, reflecting the character of the islands as a bridge between Asia and Australia. The Malay peoples, who speak various Austronesian languages, are the dominant population of the Malay Archipelago. The archipelago was called the "East Indies" from the late 16th century through the European colonial era. The term Maritime Southeast Asia is largely synonymous, covering both the islands in Southeast Asia and nearby island-like communities, such as those found on the Malay Peninsula.
In his 1876 book, British scientist and explorer Robert Brown labelled the Malay Archipelago as Northwestern Oceania. However, he noted that these islands belonged more to the Asian continent. Alfred Russel Wallace believed in 1879 that Oceania extended to the Aleutian Islands, which are now politically associated with Alaska. Sophia S. Cornell, an American geographer, claimed in 1857 that the Aleutian Islands were not part of Oceania. She divided Oceania into three groups: Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, and the Melanesian islands), Malesia (which included all present-day countries within the Malay Archipelago), and Polynesia (the Polynesian and Micronesian islands).
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The Pacific Ocean borders Australia to the north
Australia is an island continent located in the Southern Hemisphere, with the Pacific Ocean bordering it to the east and the Indian Ocean to the west. The Pacific Ocean, which extends from the Bering Sea in the north to the Antarctic Ocean in the south, is the largest ocean on the planet. It covers roughly 32% of the Earth's surface, spanning an area of roughly 165 million square kilometres (64 million square miles).
The Pacific Ocean is home to a diverse range of island nations, including those that are part of Oceania. Oceania is a geographic region that includes Australia and various Pacific island nations. While the exact definition of Oceania varies, it typically encompasses the islands between mainland Asia and the Americas. This includes American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and many others.
The islands of the Malay Archipelago, located north of Australia, are considered part of Northwestern Oceania by some sources. These islands lie on the continental shelf of Asia and include countries such as Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea. The inhabitants of these islands have historically had more exposure to mainland Asian culture due to their closer proximity.
The Pacific Ocean has played a significant role in shaping the culture and history of Australia and its neighbouring Pacific island nations. Before Europeans arrived in the area, the sea shielded Australia and the south-central Pacific islands from cultural influences that spread through large continental landmasses and adjacent islands. The vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean has also contributed to Australia's sense of global isolation.
In conclusion, the Pacific Ocean bordering Australia to the north is a significant geographic feature that has influenced the region's history, culture, and sense of isolation. The Pacific Ocean is home to numerous island nations that are part of the Oceania region, and its waters have helped to shape the unique character and development of Australia and its neighbouring countries.
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The Northern Territory is a northern self-governing territory of Australia
Australia is an island continent in Oceania, with Papua New Guinea to the north. The Malay Archipelago, which lies north of Australia, is considered part of Asia.
The Northern Territory is a self-governing territory of Australia, with its own administrator appointed by the Governor-General of Australia. It became self-governing on 1 July 1978, under the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act of 1978. The territory is represented in the federal government in Parliament, with two members in the House of Representatives and two in the Senate.
The Northern Territory has a Legislative Assembly, which serves as its parliament. Twenty-five members of the Legislative Assembly are elected to four-year terms from single-member electorates. The Legislative Assembly exercises powers similar to those of the parliaments of the Australian states, but the Commonwealth Government retains the right to legislate for the territory and can override legislation passed by the Assembly.
The Northern Territory's legal system and the jurisdiction of its courts are similar to those of the Australian states. The highest court is the Supreme Court, which hears appeals from lower courts and original cases involving serious crimes. Below this are Magistrate Courts, which hear less significant civil and criminal cases, and local courts, which deal with civil cases involving debt and damages of less than $100,000.
The Northern Territory has a fast-growing population, with most residents concentrated in and around the capital, Darwin. The territory has faced challenges due to its remote location, climate, and poor soils, but increased mining activity in the early 21st century has strengthened its economy.
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Frequently asked questions
The countries that lie to the north of Australia are Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia.
Yes, Papua New Guinea was formerly an Australian external territory but gained independence in 1975.
The Malay Archipelago, which includes the islands of the Philippines, lies north of Australia. The Galápagos Islands, the Juan Fernández Islands, and the Revillagigedo Islands are also identified as the easternmost areas of Oceania, which includes Australia.
Oceania is one of the major continental divisions of the world, along with Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It includes the Pacific islands and territories between Asia and the Americas. The definition of Oceania varies, but it typically includes Australia, New Zealand, and the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
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