Capital: Canberra.
Official language: English.
Official name: Commonwealth of Australia.
Anthems: "Advance Australia Fair" (national); "God Save the Queen"
(royal).
Largest cities: (1991 census) Sydney (3,538,970); Melbourne
(3,022,157); Brisbane (1,334,746); Perth (1,143,265); Adelaide
(1,023,617).
Symbols of Australia: Australia's flag has a British Union flag, five
stars that represent the constellation Southern Cross, and a large
star for the country's states and territories. The coat of arms
features a kangaroo and an emu; golden wattle blossoms (the
national floral emblem); a shield with the coats of arms of the six
states of Australia; and a star for the states and territories.
Land and climate
Land: Australia is the only country that is also a continent. It
lies between the South Pacific and Indian oceans. Australia is
mostly flat, except for the Great Dividing Range in the east and
several smaller mountainous regions. The major rivers include the
Murray and the Darling.
Area: 2,978,147 sq. mi. (7,713,364 sq. km), including 26,000 sq. mi.
(67,800 sq. km) for Tasmania. Greatest distances
(mainland)--east-west 2,475 mi. (3,983 km); north-south--1,950 mi.
(3,138 km). Coastline--17,366 mi. (27,948 km), including 779 mi.
(1,254 km) for Tasmania and 510 mi. (821 km) for offshore islands.
Elevation: Highest--Mount Kosciusko, 7,310 ft. (2,228 m) above sea
level. Lowest--Lake Eyre, 52 ft. (16 m) below sea level.
Climate: The northern third of Australia lies in the tropics and so
is warm or hot the year around. The rest of the country lies south
of the tropics and has warm summers and mild or cool winters.
About a third of the country is desert. Australia lies south of
the equator, and so its seasons are opposite those in the Northern
Hemisphere.
Government
Form of government: Constitutional monarchy; in practice, a
parliamentary democracy.
Head of state: Queen of the United Kingdom, who is also queen of
Australia. In practice, governor general performs functions in
queen's absence.
Head of government: Prime minister, the leader of the party or
coalition of parties holding a majority in the House of
Representatives.
Parliament: Senate--76 members; House of Representatives--148
members.
Executive: Prime minister and Cabinet.
Political subdivisions: Six states, two mainland territories, and
eight external territories.
People
Population: Estimated 1996 population--18,058,000. 1991
census--16,850,540. Estimated 2001 population--19,268,000.
Population density: 6 persons per sq. mi. (2 per sq. km)
Distribution: 85 percent urban, 15 percent rural.
Major ethnic/national groups: About 96 percent of European descent,
chiefly British and Irish, but also Italian, Greek, German, and
Dutch. About 3 percent Asian. About 1 percent Aborigine (native
Australian peoples).
Religion: About 25 percent Anglican, 25 percent Roman Catholic, and
10 percent Uniting Church, which consists of Methodist,
Congregationalist, and some Presbyterian churches.
Economy
Chief products: Agriculture--apples, barley, beef cattle, chickens
and eggs, grapes, milk, oats, oranges, potatoes, rice, sheep and
lambs, sugar cane, wheat, wool. Fishing--lobsters, oysters,
shrimp. Forestry--eucalyptus and pine timber, wood pulp.
Manufacturing--automobiles and other transportation equipment;
chemicals; household appliances; iron, steel, and other metals;
paper; processed foods; textiles, clothing, and shoes.
Mining--bauxite, coal, copper, diamonds, gold, iron ore, lead,
manganese, natural gas, nickel, opals, petroleum, silver, tin,
titanium, tungsten, uranium, zinc, zircon.
Money: Basic unit--dollar. For its price in U.S. dollars, see MONEY
(Table: Exchange rates).
International trade: Major exported goods--alumina (processed
aluminum ore), beef, coal, iron ore, petroleum products, wheat,
wool. Major imported goods--electrical appliances, industrial
machinery, office equipment, petroleum products, telecommunications
equipment, yarns and fabrics. Major trading partners--Germany,
Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States.
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