Lyla Lindsey
Australia is the world's sixth-largest country by landmass, covering 7.7 million square kilometres. To put this into perspective, Australia is comparable in size to the continental United States (minus Alaska and Hawaii). The distance between Broome and Sydney in Australia is similar to the distance between England and Turkey, while the distance between Perth and Sydney is comparable to the distance between Spain and Syria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Land area | 2.989 million square miles or 7.7 million square kilometres |
| Compared to the USA | Roughly the same size as the continental USA (without Alaska and Hawaii) |
| Compared to Europe | Almost covers the whole of Europe |
| Distance from Broome to Sydney | Comparable to the distance from England to Turkey |
| Distance from Perth to Sydney | Comparable to the distance from Spain to Syria |
| Distance from Sydney to Perth | Comparable to the distance from New York to Los Angeles |
| Population | Comparable to the population of the state of Texas |
| The Great Barrier Reef | Has the same length as the eastern coastline of the USA, the Netherlands to Southern Italy, or England's south coast to Northern Africa |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is slightly smaller than the continental USA
When looking at maps, Australia's size can be difficult to judge due to the Mercator Projection, a standard method of drawing 2D maps where each degree of latitude and longitude is the same size. However, this method distorts the true size of countries as the lines of latitude need to move further away from each other the further you move from the equator.
Interactive maps, such as the one created by The True Size website, allow users to drag and drop countries to see how their sizes compare. When the US state of California is placed next to the United Kingdom, it appears to be almost twice the UK's size. Similarly, when Australia is moved down towards the equator, it appears to grow in size and completely dwarfs the UK and Europe.
It is worth noting that Australia has a large region in the Antarctica called the 'Australian Antarctic Territory', which covers nearly half of the Antarctic continent. However, this territory is not recognized by the USA. In terms of population, Australia has significantly fewer people than the USA, with the whole of Australia having a similar population to the state of Texas.
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Australia is much larger than the UK
Australia is significantly larger than the UK. With a land mass of 7.7 million square kilometres, Australia nearly covers the whole of Europe when placed over the top. In comparison, the UK appears to shrink when dragged below the equator and is completely dwarfed by Australia when placed beside it.
To put it into perspective, the distance from Broome to Sydney in Australia is the same as the distance from England to Turkey. Similarly, the distance from Perth to Sydney is like travelling from Spain to Syria. The driving distance from Perth to Sydney is 3930 kilometers or 2442 miles, which would take 41 hours.
Australia is also comparable in size to the continental USA. The land area of Australia is 2.989 million square miles compared to the land area of the US at 3.797 million square miles. For example, travelling from Sydney to Perth (East Coast to West Coast) is about the same as travelling from New York to Los Angeles.
Australia also has a large region in the Antarctica called the 'Australian Antarctic Territory' which covers nearly half of the Antarctic continent.
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Australia is larger than Russia and Kazakhstan combined
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world by area, with a total area of about 2.989 million square miles. In comparison, Russia, the largest country in the world, has a total area of about 17 million square kilometers, which is equivalent to 6.57 million square miles. Kazakhstan has an area of 2.7 million square kilometers or 1.04 million square miles. Combined, Russia and Kazakhstan have a total area of about 7.61 million square miles, which is still smaller than Australia.
To put it into perspective, when Russia and Kazakhstan are combined and overlaid on a map of Australia, they fit snugly within its borders. This visual comparison highlights the vast size of Australia, which is often underestimated due to its location away from the equator.
In terms of size, Australia is comparable to the continental United States, excluding Alaska. The distance from Sydney to Perth on Australia's east and west coasts is similar to the distance from New York to Los Angeles. Additionally, the Great Barrier Reef, located off the eastern coast of Australia, has a length equivalent to the eastern coastline of the United States.
Australia's large size presents unique challenges and considerations for travel planning. The vast distances between destinations can impact the frequency of travel options, requiring careful trip planning to avoid inconveniences.
While Russia is the largest country in the world by area, and Kazakhstan is also a sizeable country, their combined landmass is still surpassed by the sheer size of Australia. This comparison underscores the significant geographical extent of Australia, which is often a surprising revelation for those unfamiliar with its dimensions.
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Broome to Sydney is the same distance as England to Turkey
Australia is about the same size as the continental US. To put this into perspective, travelling from Sydney to Perth on Australia's east to west coast is roughly the same as going from New York to Los Angeles.
Now, let's focus on the distance from Broome to Sydney. Broome is a remote town in Western Australia, known for its nearby Cable Beach, a stretch of white sand with gentle waves most times of the year. It is approximately 3,375.76 km or 2,097.60 miles from Sydney.
Interestingly, this distance is comparable to the distance from England to Turkey. Specifically, the distance from London, England, to Turkey is approximately 3,041.53 km or 1,889.92 miles, which is remarkably close to the Broome-Sydney distance.
So, when one travels from Broome to Sydney in Australia, it is akin to travelling the entire length of England to Turkey in terms of distance. This comparison helps to illustrate the vast expanse of Australia, which is comparable in size to the continental US.
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Perth to Sydney is the same distance as Spain to Syria
Australia is about the same size as the continental US. To put this into perspective, the distance from Perth to Sydney is about the same as the distance from the East Coast of Australia to the West Coast, or the distance from New York to Los Angeles. This distance is around 2,042.91 miles or 3,287.74 kilometres.
Interestingly, this distance is also comparable to the distance from Spain to Syria, which is approximately 2,312 miles or 3,720 kilometres as the crow flies. This distance is calculated using the Vincenty algorithm and the WGS84 ellipsoid model of the Earth, which is commonly utilised by GPS receivers.
The driving distance between Spain and Syria is slightly longer at 3,141 miles or 5,055 kilometres due to the specific road routes taken. This longer distance is similar to the flight distance between Sydney and Perth, which is noted as being around 2,044.59 miles or 3,290.45 kilometres.
These comparisons help to illustrate the vast size of Australia, highlighting that travelling from Perth to Sydney is akin to travelling between two different countries in Europe and the Middle East.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia and the USA (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) are comparable in size. The land area of Australia is 2.989 million square miles compared to the US land area of 3.797 million square miles.
Australia is much larger than the UK and Europe. Australia nearly covers the whole of Europe. Broome to Sydney is the same distance as England to Turkey, and Perth to Sydney is like travelling from Spain to Syria.
The US state of California is almost twice the size of the United Kingdom. California appears to be much smaller than Australia.
Australia is over four million square kilometres larger than Greenland in land mass.
