Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the smallest of the seven traditional continents and the sixth-largest country in the world, with a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles). Australia's closest neighbours are Papua New Guinea to the north and New Zealand to the east.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Continent | Australia |
| Country | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Landmass | 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi) |
| Global Position | Between latitudes 9° and 44° south, longitudes 112° and 154° east |
| Surrounding Water Bodies | Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arafura Sea, Timor Sea, Coral Sea, Tasman Sea |
| Closest Neighbours | Papua New Guinea, New Zealand |
| Population | 28 million |
| Capital | Canberra |
| Largest Cities | Sydney, Melbourne |
| Type of Government | Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy |
| Economy | Highly developed, 13th-highest military expenditure |
| Natural Resources | Unique flora and fauna, eucalyptus trees, platypus, echidna, acacias, dingoes, kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras, Great Barrier Reef |
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What You'll Learn
Papua New Guinea is north of Australia
Papua New Guinea is an island country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and offshore islands in Melanesia. It is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, north of Australia. The country covers an area of 462,840 square kilometres (178,700 sq mi), including a large mainland and hundreds of islands.
The island of New Guinea is divided politically into two roughly equal halves across a north-south line. The western half of the island is part of Indonesia and comprises the provinces of Papua, Central Papua, Highland Papua, South Papua, West Papua, and Southwest Papua. The eastern half forms the mainland of Papua New Guinea, which has been an independent country since 1975.
The territory of Papua New Guinea was split in the 1880s between German New Guinea in the north and the British Territory of Papua in the south. All of present-day Papua New Guinea came under Australian control following World War I, although it remained two distinct territories. The nation was the site of fierce fighting during World War II, following which the two territories were united.
Papua New Guinea shares a land border with Indonesia to the west and maritime borders with Australia to the south and the Solomon Islands to the east. It is separated from Australia's Cape York Peninsula by the shallow 152-kilometre (94 mi) Torres Strait. The Arafura Sea lies to the west of this strait, while the much deeper Coral Sea lies to its east.
The country is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world. It is also one of the most rural, as only 18% of its people live in urban centres. Papua New Guinea has sought to maintain good relations with its neighbours, including Australia, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands.
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New Zealand is east of Australia
Australia is the smallest of the world's continents, and the country is the sixth-largest by total area. It is highly urbanised and has the world's 14th-largest economy and the second-highest human development index globally. The Australian continent includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea, which comprises Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea.
New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, and it lies to the east of Australia. It is part of a wider region known as Australasia and is the sixth-largest island country by area. New Zealand is made up of two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island—and over 600 smaller islands. The country's capital is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland, both located on the North Island.
The Tasman Sea lies between Australia and New Zealand. The North Island of New Zealand has a rugged coastline with numerous harbors, bays, and inlets. The South Island, on the other hand, has a more regular coastline, except along the southern portion of the eastern coastline, which boasts deep fjords. The North Island has lower relief than the South Island, but its few mountains are volcanic in origin.
New Zealand has a unique array of vegetation and animal life, much of which developed during the country's prolonged isolation. It is the sole home of the long-beaked, flightless kiwi bird. The country also has active volcanoes, spectacular caves, deep glacier lakes, verdant valleys, and long sandy beaches.
New Zealand and Australia share a close relationship, with a "Trans-Tasman" identity between their citizens. They also share a similar history, as both were part of the supercontinent of Gondwana, which broke apart, leaving them geographically isolated.
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Indonesia is close to Australia
Australia is the smallest continent and the country is the sixth-largest by total area. It is highly urbanised and has the 14th-largest economy in the world. 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 first two treaties to establish the seabed boundary between the two countries utilised the "natural prolongation of the continental shelf" principle. Australia argued that the deep Timor Trough was the natural edge of its continental shelf, resulting in a boundary located closer to Indonesia. Indonesia, on the other hand, argued for the median line – the equidistant line from the baselines of both countries – as the correct location of the boundary.
The 1997 treaty saw Australia's argument prevail regarding the seabed claim, while Indonesia's median line argument was accepted for establishing its rights over the water column or exclusive economic zone. This resulted in the separation of the two types of boundaries and a resources-sharing joint development area arrangement.
In summary, Indonesia is indeed close to Australia, and the two countries have negotiated and established treaties to manage their shared maritime border and resolve disputes over the continental shelf in the Timor Gap region.
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Australia is the smallest continent
Australia is sometimes referred to as Oceania, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and other tiny islands in the Central and South Pacific. However, Australia as a continent includes the nation of Australia, the nation of Papua New Guinea, and the island nation of New Zealand. The continent of Australia is sometimes known by the names Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia to differentiate it from the country of Australia. This name derives from the Sahul Shelf, which is a part of the continental shelf of the Australian continent.
Australia is located within the Southern and Eastern hemispheres, near Maritime Southeast Asia. It is situated in the geographical region of Oceania, more specifically in the subregion of Australasia. 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 is highly urbanised, with a population of almost 28 million people. It has the world's 14th-largest economy and the second-highest human development index globally. Australia also has the world's ninth-largest immigrant population, with people from more than 200 countries since World War II. The population increased to more than 23 million by 2014, and the country ranks highly for quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, and political rights.
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Australia is the world's largest island
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans and is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor Seas. Australia is the smallest of the seven traditional continents and the sixth-largest country in the world, with a total area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles).
While Australia is sometimes referred to as an "island continent," most geographers consider islands and continents to be distinct. According to Britannica, an island is a landmass that is "entirely surrounded by water" and "smaller than a continent." By this definition, Australia cannot be an island because it is already a continent.
However, the term "island" is open to interpretation. The Oxford English Dictionary defines an island as "a piece of land surrounded by water." Using this definition, Australia could be considered the world's largest island. In the late 18th century, some geographers considered Australia an island, and in 1813, Samuel Butler referred to it as "New Holland, an immense island, which some geographers dignify with the appellation of another continent."
The debate around Australia's status as an island or continent highlights the challenges of geographical categorisation. Ultimately, the distinction between an island and a continent is not always clear-cut, and different definitions can lead to different conclusions.
In conclusion, while Australia is widely recognised as the smallest continent, its status as the world's largest island is a matter of definition and interpretation. The unique geographical characteristics of Australia, surrounded by water and with a large landmass, contribute to the ongoing discussion about its classification.
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Frequently asked questions
Papua New Guinea and New Zealand are Australia's closest neighbours.
Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, with a total area of 7,678,287 sq km (2,968,464 sq mi).
The continent of Australia includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, the island of New Guinea, the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and most of the Coral Sea Islands.
