Australia Geography
Occupying a whole continent,
Australia is the world's sixth largest country, after Russia, Canada, China, the US and Brazil. The country is almost the same size as the United States (excluding Alaska) and about 50 percent larger than Europe (excluding the former USSR). Australia is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Arafura Sea to the north, the Indian Ocean to the west and the Southern Ocean to the south.
Australia is the second driest continent on earth (behind Antarctica), with flat deserts as vast as the Sahara. The fertile coastal strip - where 90 percent of the population live - hides a dry and inhospitable centre called the Outback. The seemingly endless barren landscape is broken by saltlakes, mountains such as the MacDonnell Ranges near
Alice Springs or the
Flinders Ranges in
South Australia, and mysterious rock formations such as
Ayers Rock/Uluru. The longest river, originating in
Queensland, is the Darling, which measures 2736km. The highest point, Mt Kosciuszko (2228m), is in the Australian Alps between
New South Wales and
Victoria.
States and Territories
There are six states in Australia -
New South Wales,
Victoria,
Queensland,
South Australia,
Western Australia and
Tasmania - and two territories - the
Australian Capital Territory and the
Northern Territory.
The states and territories each have a capital city, flag, and even their own flora and fauna emblems. Australia is also responsible for administering seven external territories:
Norfolk Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands Territory, the Territory of Heard Island, the Coral Sea Islands Territory, the sub Antarctic McDonald Islands and the Australian Antarctic Territory.
Areas of Interest
Queensland
New South Wales
Victoria
Northern Territory
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
- Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
- Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park