Leslie Massey
Australia is a country and continent situated between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. Australia is one of the largest countries on Earth, and its capital city is Canberra. The continent was first inhabited by Aboriginal Australians around 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, who arrived from Asia via land bridges and short sea crossings. The first European explorers arrived in the 16th century, with Dutch explorers landing in 1606, and the British beginning to settle in 1788.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Continent | Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. |
| Location | Australia lies between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| Capital | Canberra |
| Economic and Cultural Centres | Sydney and Melbourne |
| Geography | The Australian mainland extends from west to east for nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) and from Cape York Peninsula in the northeast to Wilsons Promontory in the southeast for nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km). |
| Jurisdiction | In the south, Australian jurisdiction extends a further 310 miles (500 km) to the southern extremity of the island of Tasmania, and in the north, it extends to the southern shores of Papua New Guinea. |
| Neighbours | Australia is separated from Indonesia to the northwest by the Timor and Arafura seas, from Papua New Guinea to the northeast by the Coral Sea and the Torres Strait, from the Coral Sea Islands Territory by the Great Barrier Reef, from New Zealand to the southeast by the Tasman Sea, and from Antarctica by the Southern Ocean. |
| Population | In January 2025, there were 168,386 named species on the Australian National Species List. However, it is estimated that 70% of Australian species have not been discovered and classified, and there may be 600,000 Australian native species. |
| Climate | Australia has a warm, sunny climate with an abundance of open spaces. |
| Culture | Australia is one of the world's most ethnically diverse nations. Nearly a quarter of the people who live in Australia were born in other countries, including the United Kingdom, other European countries, China, Vietnam, North Africa, and the Middle East. |
| Religion | Christianity is the predominant religion in Australia, although large proportions of Australians belong to no religion. Other religions in the region include Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, which are prominent minority religions. |
| History | Human habitation of the Australian continent is estimated to have begun 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, with the migration of people by land bridges and short sea crossings from what is now Southeast Asia. Aboriginal Australian culture is one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth. |
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What You'll Learn
- Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth
- Australia is located between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere
- The Australian mainland extends 4,000 km from west to east and 3,200 km from Cape York Peninsula to Wilsons Promontory
- Australia is home to many of the world's deadliest animal species, including 36 types of poisonous funnel-web spiders
- The country's flora and fauna developed as the continent drifted north from Antarctica
Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth
Australia is the smallest continent on Earth, with a total land area of 8.56 million square kilometres (3,310,000 sq mi). It is also one of the largest countries in the world by area, at about 3 million square miles (7.7 million square km). The Australian mainland extends from west to east for nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) and from the Cape York Peninsula in the northeast to Wilsons Promontory in the southeast for nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km). To the south, Australian jurisdiction extends a further 310 miles (500 km) to the southern extremity of the island of Tasmania, and in the north, it extends to the southern shores of Papua New Guinea. Australia is separated from Indonesia to the northwest by the Timor and Arafura seas, and from Papua New Guinea to the northeast by the Coral Sea and the Torres Strait.
The country of Australia comprises most of the continent and is sometimes informally referred to as an "island continent", surrounded by oceans. The Australian continental crust was created in three cycles, from the oldest Archaean cratons in the west to the younger orogenic formations in the east. The oldest Australian surface rocks date to the Archaean period, with some in Western Australia older than 3.7 billion years and others in South Australia over 3.1 billion years old. The country is highly urbanised, with a population of over 23 million as of 2014.
The capital of Australia is Canberra, located in the southeast between the larger and more important economic and cultural centres of Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney is home to the Australian Securities Exchange, the largest stock exchange in Australia and the South Pacific. In 2012, Australia was the 12th largest national economy by nominal GDP and the 19th largest measured by PPP-adjusted GDP. Tourism in Australia is an important component of the economy, contributing A$47.5 billion to the national economy in the 2014/15 financial year.
Australia has a wide variety of climates due to its large geographical size. The largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid, and deserts and xeric shrubland cover about 70% of the mainland. The country has a variety of unique flora and fauna, with many plants and animals adapted to the arid climate, variable rainfall, and nutrient-poor soil. About two-thirds of the world's 330 species of marsupials are native to Australia, and the country is home to many unique species, including the koala, platypus, and Tasmanian devil.
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Australia is located between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere
Australia is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. It is one of the most ethnically diverse nations globally, with nearly a quarter of its population born in other countries. The country is also home to many of the world's deadliest species of animals, including 36 species of poisonous funnel-web spiders and 20 types of venomous snakes.
The continent is rich in natural resources and has a lot of fertile land, although more than one-third of Australia is desert. Most Australian cities and farms are located in the southwest and southeast, where the climate is more comfortable. Dense rainforests can be found in the northeast, and the famous outback contains the country's largest deserts, with scorching temperatures, little water, and almost no vegetation.
The Great Dividing Range runs around the eastern and southeastern edge of Australia, and its mountains send water down into the country's most important rivers and the Great Artesian Basin, the largest groundwater source in the world. Australia is also home to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the richest coral reef systems globally.
Human habitation of the Australian continent is estimated to have begun 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, with the migration of people from what is now Southeast Asia. Aboriginal Australian culture is one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth.
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The Australian mainland extends 4,000 km from west to east and 3,200 km from Cape York Peninsula to Wilsons Promontory
Australia is a continent and a country, and it is the smallest continent in the world. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere, between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Australian mainland extends 4,000 kilometres from west to east and 3,200 kilometres from Cape York Peninsula in the northeast to Wilsons Promontory in the southeast. The Cape York Peninsula covers about 137,000 square kilometres and is bounded by the Torres Strait to the north, the Coral Sea to the east, and the Gulf of Carpentaria to the west. The Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park extends along 70 kilometres of coastline and covers 15,550 hectares, making it the largest marine national park in Victoria.
The Australian continent has a unique history, with human habitation estimated to have begun 50,000 to 65,000 years ago. The first inhabitants were the ancestors of modern Aboriginal Australians, who migrated by land bridges and short sea crossings from Southeast Asia. Aboriginal Australian culture is one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth. The landscape of Australia was significantly influenced by the use of fire by Aboriginals, who had established semi-permanent settlements.
Australia has a diverse geography, with active volcanoes on the eastern mainland as recently as 4,600 years ago. The Australian continental crust was formed in three cycles, with the oldest rocks dating back to the Archaean period. The country also boasts the oldest zircon crystals on Earth, found in Western Australia and dated to 4.4 billion years ago. Deserts and xeric shrublands cover about 70% of the mainland, and unique plant species such as Acacia, Banksia, and Eucalypts are spread across the country.
Australia has a relatively prosperous independent economy and is a middle power in terms of foreign relations. It maintains strong ties with traditional allies like the US and seeks to increase trade within the Indo-Pacific region. Australia is a member of various international organisations, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the OECD, and the G20.
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Australia is home to many of the world's deadliest animal species, including 36 types of poisonous funnel-web spiders
Australia is a continent and country located between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. Australia's capital is Canberra, and its most important economic and cultural centres are Sydney and Melbourne. The country is known for its unique and diverse wildlife, with about 10% of the world's plant species found in Australia.
Australia is home to many of the world's deadliest animal species, including the funnel-web spider. Funnel-web spiders are highly venomous and aggressive, with large fangs capable of piercing through fingernails. Their venom can kill a human in just 15 minutes and attacks the human nervous system, requiring immediate medical attention. There are about 35 to 40 species of funnel-web spiders in Australia, found along the eastern coast from New South Wales to Queensland. The Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is particularly notorious and is considered the world's deadliest spider. It is found in suburban areas and bushland, often seeking shelter in shoes or houses.
The Australian Reptile Park plays a crucial role in producing antivenom for funnel-web spider bites, with a dedicated venom-milking program. The antivenom has proven effective, and there have been no recorded deaths from funnel-web spider bites since its development in 1981.
In addition to funnel-web spiders, Australia is also known for its dangerous redback spiders, mouse spiders, and trap door spiders, which can be mistaken for funnel-web spiders due to their similar early bite symptoms. Australia's unique geography and climate contribute to the diversity and toxicity of its wildlife, making it a fascinating yet potentially dangerous environment for humans and animals alike.
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The country's flora and fauna developed as the continent drifted north from Antarctica
Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. The country is known for its unique flora and fauna, which have developed over millions of years as the continent drifted north from Antarctica.
During the Devonian period, when Australia was part of the supercontinent Gondwana, the first shrub-sized to tree-sized lycopods appeared in Australia and Antarctica. These lycopods dominated the flora until the Early Carboniferous. As Australia drifted from equatorial latitudes to polar latitudes, the lycopods were replaced by seed-ferns and the Nothorhacopteris-Fedekurtzia-Botrychiopis complex. The supercontinent Gondwana, which included present-day continents such as Africa, South America, Antarctica, and India, began to break apart during the Jurassic period. This separation led to the isolation of Australia, creating a unique environment for its flora and fauna to evolve independently.
The unique ecosystems and distinct flora and fauna of Australia are a result of this separation and the subsequent shift in climate patterns. The country's flora has adapted to the arid climate, variable rainfall, and nutrient-poor soil. About 70% of the mainland is covered in deserts and xeric shrublands, and acacia, banksia, and eucalypts have spread over much of Australia. Many plants have hard and long-living leaves, are rich in carbon, poor in nutrients, and well-adapted to bushfires.
The fauna of Australia is equally unique, with 83% of its mammals being endemic, along with 93% of amphibians. Marsupials, in particular, are abundant, with about two-thirds of the world's 330 species of marsupials native to Australia. The oldest mammal fossils from Australia are monotreme fossils from the Cretaceous of Southern Australia, dating back to when Australia was part of Gondwana.
Thus, the flora and fauna of Australia have evolved and diversified over millions of years, influenced by the continent's drift north from Antarctica and subsequent isolation, resulting in the country's distinctive and rich biodiversity.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Australia is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. Australia is the last continent, apart from Antarctica, to be explored by Europeans.
Human habitation of the Australian continent is estimated to have begun 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, with the migration of people from what is now Southeast Asia. The Aboriginal Australians belong to a wide range of societies, with diverse economies spread across at least 250 different language groups.
