Lexi Webster
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. It is one of the largest countries on Earth and the sixth-largest by land area. Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy made up of six states and ten territories. The six states are New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island), Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania (including Macquarie Island), Victoria, and Western Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of countries Australia is made up of | 1 |
| Number of states | 6 |
| Number of territories | 10 |
| Total area | 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi) or 8.56 million square kilometres (3,310,000 sq mi) |
| Population | 28 million |
| Capital | Canberra |
| Most populous cities | Sydney and Melbourne |
| Number of national parks | 516 |
| Number of poisonous funnel-web spider species | 36 |
| Number of venomous snake species | 20 |
| Number of unique animal species | Platypus, kangaroo, echidna, koala, dingo, kookaburra |
| Number of unique plant species | Eucalyptus trees, acacias (Acacia pycnantha [golden wattle]) |
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What You'll Learn
- Australia is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent
- The continent of Australia is sometimes known as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia
- Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth
- Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands
- Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories
Australia is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent
The continent of Australia is sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, Meganesia, or Australia-New Guinea to distinguish it from the country of Australia. The country of Australia comprises most of this continent, including the mainland, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. The continent also includes the island of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea), the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and most of the Coral Sea Islands.
Australia is known for its unique flora and fauna, including iconic species such as kangaroos, koalas, and the platypus, one of the only egg-laying mammals on Earth. The Great Barrier Reef, off the east coast of Queensland, is one of the world's foremost tourist attractions. The country also boasts 516 national parks to protect its diverse plant and animal species.
The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving in Australia from Southeast Asia between 50,000 and 65,000 years ago, and by the time of British settlement, they spoke 250 distinct languages and had one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Australia has a highly diverse population, with nearly a quarter of its residents born in other countries. It has a highly developed economy and is ranked highly for quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, and political rights.
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The continent of Australia is sometimes known as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's sixth-largest country and the largest in Oceania. Australia is also a continent in its own right, being the smallest of the seven traditional continents.
The continent of Australia is sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia. These names are used to distinguish the continent from the country of Australia. The name 'Sahul' is derived from the Sahul Shelf, which is part of the continental shelf of the Australian continent. Archaeologists often use the name Sahul, while Meganesia tends to be used by zoogeographers. The name Meganesia, meaning "great island" or "great island-group", has been widely accepted by biologists. Australinea was coined by biologist Richard Dawkins in 2004.
The continent of Australia 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. The continent includes a continental shelf overlain by shallow seas that divide it into several landmasses—the Arafura Sea and Torres Strait between mainland Australia and New Guinea, and Bass Strait between mainland Australia and Tasmania.
Australia, the country, has a highly developed economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally. It has abundant natural resources and a well-developed international trade network, with China as its largest trading partner. Australia is also known for its unique flora and fauna, including eucalyptus trees, platypuses, kangaroos, and koalas.
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Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth
Australia is a unique country in many ways. It is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. The country of Australia is mostly on a single landmass and comprises most of the continent. It is surrounded by the Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. It is the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania, with a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles).
The continent of Australia is sometimes referred to by different names, such as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia, to distinguish it from the country of Australia. The name "Sahul" is derived from the Sahul Shelf, which is a part of the continental shelf of the Australian continent. The continent includes mainland Australia, the island of 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 several other nearby islands.
Australia is a highly urbanised country with a population of almost 28 million people. Its two most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne, each with over five million people. Australia has a diverse culture and is home to one of the world's most ethnically diverse populations. It has a highly developed economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally. Its economy relies heavily on its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations.
Australia has a unique ecosystem due to its remote location, resulting in many animal species found nowhere else on Earth, such as the platypus, kangaroo, echidna, and koala. The Great Barrier Reef, off the east coast of Queensland, is the greatest mass of coral in the world and a major tourist attraction. The country also boasts 516 national parks to protect its diverse flora and fauna, including hundreds of eucalyptus tree species and various acacias.
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Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's smallest continent and sixth-largest country by land area, covering 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles). It is the largest country in Oceania and the largest landmass in the continent of Australia.
The continent of Australia, sometimes known as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia, includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea, comprising Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea. Australia is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent, and it is one of the largest countries on Earth. It is highly urbanised, with a population of almost 28 million, and has the world's 14th-largest economy and the second-highest human development index globally.
Australia has a diverse culture and is one of the most ethnically diverse nations, with nearly a quarter of its population born in other countries. It has a highly developed economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally. Its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations are crucial to its economy. It ranks highly for quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, and political rights.
The country has a unique ecosystem due to its remote location, resulting in many animal species found nowhere else in the world, such as the platypus, kangaroo, echidna, and koala. It has 516 national parks to protect its diverse flora and fauna, including hundreds of eucalyptus tree species and various acacias, with the golden wattle as the national flower. The Great Barrier Reef, off the east coast of Queensland, is one of the world's foremost tourist attractions.
Tasmania is one of the six federated states of Australia, along with New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island), Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia. It is the only state to use proportional representation for elections to its lower house, known as the "House of Assembly". Tasmania has a diverse landscape, with subtropical rainforests in the southeast and broadleaf rainforests in the northeast.
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Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. As a commonwealth of the United Kingdom, Australia's head of state is the British monarch, currently King Charles III. Australians have considered becoming a republic, but in a 1999 vote, they decided to maintain their ties to Britain.
Australia is made up of six states and ten territories. The six states are New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island), Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania (including Macquarie Island), Victoria, and Western Australia. These six states were formed from colonies that federated in 1901 to become the founding states of the Commonwealth of Australia. The ten territories include the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, Norfolk Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Jervis Bay Territory, and the Coral Sea Islands.
The states are partially sovereign and have their own constitutions, legislatures, executive governments, judiciaries, and law enforcement agencies. The territories are legally subordinate to the federal government, but they can be autonomous and administer local policies and programs. Two territories, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, have some degree of self-government, although less than that of the states.
Australia is the world's smallest continent and the sixth-largest country by land area. It is the only country that covers an entire continent and is sometimes considered the world's largest island. The country has a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles), and its mainland is surrounded by the Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans.
The continent of Australia includes the mainland, 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. The continent is sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia to distinguish it from the country of Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent.
Australia has six federated states: New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island), Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania (including Macquarie Island), Victoria, and Western Australia.
Australia has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, and Norfolk Island.
The states are partially sovereign and self-governing, with their own constitutions, legislatures, executive governments, judiciaries, and law enforcement agencies. Territories are legally subordinate to the federal government, but they can be autonomous and administer local policies and programs.
