Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Australia
Geography and Location
Australia is the smallest continent and the only country that occupies an entire continent. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere, bordered by the Pacific and Indian Oceans, with a total land area of around 2.9 million square miles.
The mainland stretches nearly 2,500 miles from west to east and approximately 2,000 miles from north to south. It is separated from its nearest neighbors by large bodies of water Indonesia to the northwest, Papua New Guinea to the north, and New Zealand to the southeast.
The country's wide landscape includes coastal plains, heavy rainforests, jagged mountains, and the famed outback, where deserts predominate in much of the interior. Australia also hosts the Great Barrier Reef, the world's biggest coral reef system, located off its northeastern coast.
Government and Politics
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy, blending the traditions of the British parliamentary system with those of federalism. There is a national government for the Commonwealth of Australia, as well as individual state governments that still retain a level of sovereignty as determined by the Constitution of Australia.
The six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, each having its own legislature and responsibilities. The ACT and Northern Territory are independently administered, being that Canberra is the nation's capital.
Although Australia is, based on definition, a constitutional monarchy having the British monarch as the head of state, such a country has largely grown into an independent one, first gaining full legislative independence with the Statute of Westminster in 1931 and the final step with the passage of the Australia Act in 1986. Yet, debates relating to Australia turning into a republic and thus disassociating themselves with the monarchy of Britain still go on and were also witnessed in the 1999 referendum.
Climate and Landscape
This uniqueness of the country is comprised of diverse climates and landscapes. The climate varies from tropical in the north with hot, humid summers and mild winters to temperate in the southern regions. Much of the interior is dominated by arid and semi arid landscapes, where large deserts such as the Simpson Desert, the Great Victoria Desert, and the Outback are found.
Despite the fact that approximately 35% of Australia's land area is taken up by deserts, even these areas are provided with resilient ecosystems adapted to extreme conditions. The Great Dividing Range runs down the eastern coast, separating the eastern coastal areas from the interior and determines the weather patterns.
Equally important features which go to make up the singularities of Australia's landscape include the Blue Mountains, the Pinnacles Desert, and the age old rock formations of Kakadu National Park. The country's littoral is lined with pristine beaches, among the famous ones are those in Bondi Beach in Sydney. Australia is separated from New Zealand, lying to the southeast, by the Tasman Sea.
People and Culture
Australia has a culturally diverse population, with around 25% of its population born overseas. A country that has opened its arms to immigrants from different parts of the world, such as Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, has definitely shaped its rich multicultural identity.
In addition to the dominant Anglo Celtic heritage of early Australia, today's culture is shaped by communities from China, Italy, Greece, Vietnam, and beyond. It is also a very outdoorsy population, with national appeals to sports including cricket, Australian rules football, rugby, soccer, and tennis. The climate and openness of the country add to this lifestyle.
The other important constituent of the country's identity is Indigenous Australian culture, with more than 500 different Aboriginal nations and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have occupied the continent for a period of time longer than 50,000 years, maintaining their unique culture and languages.
Nature and Wildlife
As a result of its isolation for millions of years, Australia contains some of the most singular and biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. Its flora and fauna independently took paths of evolution that do not find comparisons on any other Earthly terrain.
It is home to renowned animals like the kangaroo, koala, wombat, and platypus all of which have adapted to the Australian environment in amazing ways. Australia is also home to some of the world's deadliest animals, the box jellyfish, taipan snake, and the inland taipan a snake often referred to as the world's most venomous.
The country is at the forefront in terms of preservation, boasting 516 national parks, in addition to multiple protected areas for the purposes of protecting native flora and fauna. They range from the tropical rainforests of Queensland to the dry deserts of the Outback and give shelter to species, which thrive in these extremes.
History and Economy
Australia's history spans thousands of years, beginning with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have lived on the continent for more than 50,000 years. In 1788, the British established a penal colony at Port Jackson, and this signaled the beginning of significant social and cultural change.
Australia became a recipient of British convicts and free settlers in the 19th century. After the discovery of gold in 1851, the country experienced significant economic development and immigration. Australia federated in 1901 with the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Today, it boasts one of the biggest economies in the Asia Pacific region. Natural resources including coal, iron ore, gold, agricultural products like wool, wheat, and beef are the main exports of this country. Backed by an intense services sector, the foundations of the country's economy are strong, consisting of education, healthcare, and finance based industries, making it one of the wealthiest countries in the world. The trade relations of Australia, especially with China, Japan, and South Korea in Asia, have acquired a greater importance, situating the country in an indispensable place within the world economy.
