Lexi Webster
Australia is a nation of over 8,000 islands, with a vast array of flora and fauna, including eucalyptus trees, platypuses, kangaroos, and koalas. It is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country in the world, located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. The country is divided into six states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, and two major mainland territories: the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The capital, Canberra, is located in the Australian Capital Territory, while the largest city, Sydney, is situated on the southeastern coast. Australia's geography is characterised by coastal lowlands, extensive deserts, and mountain ranges, with the Great Barrier Reef spanning the northeast coast of Queensland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Continent | Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth |
| Location | Located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere |
| Geography | Large coastal lowlands, extensive deserts, and sizable mountain ranges |
| Area | 7,617,930 km² (some sources state 7,741,220 km²) |
| Population | 25.4 million (as of 2020) |
| States | New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia |
| Territories | Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory |
| Capital | Canberra |
| Largest City | Sydney |
| Second-Largest City | Melbourne |
| Islands | Over 8,000, including Tasmania, Fraser Island, and Kangaroo Island |
| Marine Geography | The Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef system in the world |
| Environmental Issues | Soil erosion, soil salinity, limited natural freshwater resources, and problems with desertification |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's location
Australia is a large country in the Southern Hemisphere, located in the region of Oceania. It is the smallest continent, but the sixth-largest country in the world by total area. Australia is situated southeast of Asia and south of the Pacific Ocean islands, consisting of a landmass of 7,692,024 square kilometers (2,969,907 sq mi). The country is part of the Australasia biogeographic region, along with New Zealand, New Guinea, and other islands.
When looking at a map of Australia, the first thing that stands out is its unique shape, which is often compared to a triangle or a giant diamond. The country is surrounded by ocean on all sides, with the Indian Ocean to the west and south, the Southern Ocean to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the east. This oceanic border gives Australia a distinct geographic isolation, often referred to as an "island continent."
The Australian continent consists of a mainland platform and several offshore islands, including Tasmania, the world's 25th-largest island, separated by the Bass Strait. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, lies a short distance off the northeast coast of Australia, and the country also administers 11 external territories, including Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, among others.
Australia is positioned in the lower-central portion of the Southern Hemisphere, with latitude of 10° south of the equator and longitude of 135° east of the Prime Meridian. The continent has a maximum width of 4,000 kilometers (2,500 mi) and a land boundary of 25,760 km (15,990 mi). The mainland has a unique orientation, with its long axis lying north-west to south-east.
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The shape of Australia
Australia is a country, a continent, and a big island. It is the smallest continent in the world and the sixth-largest country, located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere. It is geographically positioned in both the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres of the Earth.
The country is surrounded by water, with the Indian and Pacific Oceans on either side, and a series of bays, gulfs, seas, and straits. It is bounded by maritime borders with East Timor, Indonesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia (France). Australia does not share land borders with any other nation.
The Great Dividing Range runs along the eastern coast, with other mountain ranges like the Macdonnell Ranges in the center and the Hamersley Range in the west. The country's low relief is due to the long and extensive erosion caused by wind, rain, and sun during the great periods when the continental mass was elevated above sea level.
Australia is a nation of islands, with over 8,000 in its territory. The largest is Tasmania, located 240 km south of the eastern mainland, covering an area of 68,401 km2. Other notable islands include Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island, and Kangaroo Island, known for its diverse wildlife. The Great Barrier Reef, off the northeast coast of Queensland, is the largest coral reef system in the world, stretching over 2,300 km.
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Australia's islands
Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders. The islands vary in size, from small rocks that are uncovered at high tide to islands that are more than twice the size of the Australian Capital Territory.
Some of the larger islands include Tasmania, Melville Island, Kangaroo Island, Groote Eylandt, Bathurst Island, K'gari (also known as Fraser Island), Flinders Island, King Island, and Mornington Island. K'gari, located off the coast of Queensland, is the world's largest sand island, with an area of 165,280 hectares. It is famous for its coloured sands, which have been stained by decayed vegetation over thousands of years.
Other notable islands include Rottnest Island, a sanctuary known for its clear blue waters, rocky cliffs, and friendly quokkas; the Whitsundays, a group of 74 islands in the Great Barrier Reef offering luxurious tropical escapes; and Lord Howe Island, a biodiverse island with a mountain-studded interior, located in the Tasman Sea east of the Australian mainland.
Australia also has several external territories, including the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, and Norfolk Island. These territories are regulated by the federal Parliament of Australia and are considered constitutionally part of the country. Macquarie Island, located in the Southern Ocean, is one of Australia's most distant possessions, situated closer to the Antarctic continent than to its parent state of Tasmania.
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Neighbouring countries
Australia is the smallest of the world's seven continents and the sixth-largest country in the world. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere, between the Indian Ocean to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. It is surrounded by water and does not share a land border with any other nation.
Australia's closest neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea to the north and New Zealand to the east. Other neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and the Philippines. These neighbouring countries share maritime borders with Australia and are part of the broader region of Oceania, which consists of vast regions, island territories, and adjacent seas in the Pacific Ocean.
Oceania extends east of Maritime Southeast Asia and west of South America. Within Oceania, the subregion of Australasia includes Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean.
The continent of Australia, also known as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia, includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea, which comprises Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea. The Arafura Sea and Torres Strait separate mainland Australia from New Guinea, while the Bass Strait lies between mainland Australia and Tasmania.
Australia is a nation of over 8,000 islands, with Tasmania being the largest. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, spans the northeast coast of Queensland and is home to a diverse array of marine life.
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Cities and towns
Australia is divided into six states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, as well as two mainland territories: the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Canberra, the country's capital, is located in the Australian Capital Territory, in the southeast part of the country. It is also the largest inland city in Australia and serves as the administrative centre of the federation.
Sydney, the largest and most populous city in Australia and Oceania, is located on the southeast coast. It is one of the chief ports in the South Pacific, thanks to its strategic location and magnificent harbour. Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria, is the second-largest city in Australia and is known for its high concentration of bars and restaurants, shopping malls, boutiques, markets, cultural events, street art, and live music. Sydney and Melbourne have a population of 5.56 million and 5.35 million, respectively.
Other notable cities in Australia include Townsville, known for its access to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef; Gold Coast, also known as "Australia's Hollywood" for its massive TV, film, and music productions; Coffs Harbour, a city on the seashore between Newcastle and the Gold Coast, known for its tourist attractions such as bushwalking, whale watching, scuba diving, and national parks; and Rockhampton, a town located on the Fitzroy River, surrounded by mountains and known for its Victorian-era architecture. Toowoomba, located near Brisbane, is the second most populous inland city in Australia and is known as the "Garden City" due to its abundance of public parks and gardens.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country in the world. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by water and does not share a land border with any other nation. The country is divided into six states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. It also has two major territories: the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
Australia is known for its vast coastal lowlands, extensive deserts, and sizable mountain ranges. It has three distinct physiographic regions from east to west: the East Australian Highlands, the Interior Lowlands (also known as the Central Lowlands), and the Western Plateau. The Central Lowlands are the country's fertile basins, with the Great Artesian Basin being one of the largest groundwater basins in the world. The Murray-Darling Basin, Australia's largest river system, is located in southeastern Australia.
Australia is a nation of islands, with over 8,000 islands in its territory. The Great Barrier Reef, located off the northeast coast of Queensland, is the largest coral reef system in the world, spanning over 2,300 km. Australia has a unique flora and fauna, including hundreds of kinds of eucalyptus trees and the only egg-laying mammals on Earth: the platypus and echidna.
