Australia: history of discovery and interesting facts

Australia – mainland

The entire territory of the mainland is occupied by one country – Australia. Its official name is the Commonwealth of Australia, but it is usually called – Australia. We will reveal the topic “Australia: history of discovery and interesting facts” and immerse ourselves in the universe of interesting things.

Canberra the capital of Australia. The area of ​​​​Australia is 7,692,024 km2. The country is located in three time zones. Some islands belonging to Australia are located in other time zones. The official language is English, or rather its dialect.

History of discovery and interesting facts – who discovered Australia

The assumption that there is an unknown land in the Southern Hemisphere arose in ancient times. Sailors from different countries tried to find it.

In the 16th century, Portuguese sailors discovered the islands that now belong to Australia. Sailors considered them to be the same southern land.

Officially, the continent is believed to have been discovered by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon. In 1605-1606, he landed on the northern coast of Australia and mapped it, calling it New Holland.

In the early 1640s, the Dutch explored other parts of the land. But what they represent is a continent, established only by the expedition of the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman.

In 1770, the colonization of Australia took place. British military sailor James Cook, having explored the shores of the bay, on behalf of King George III, declared the land a possession of Great Britain.

Population of Australia

The country ranks 54th in the world in terms of population and is the most densely populated in Oceania. The current population is about 27,610,300 people, and their number continues to grow. It is growing mainly due to emigrants, in terms of the number of whom Australia ranks 8th in the world. The largest number of emigrants is from Europe (Great Britain), India and China.

The indigenous population is about 2%. As a rule, they live away from cities, because their main occupation is hunting and gathering.

Cities of Australia

Australia is an urbanized country. Most emigrants mainly settle in cities.

• Sydney is the capital of the Australian state of New South Wales. Founded in 1788, it is known as the largest and oldest city in Australia. It is in Sydney that the country’s tallest buildings are located – the Sydney Television Tower and the headquarters of an insurance company, the height of which reaches 259 m and 244 m, respectively. The Sydney Aquarium is also located here – one of the largest in the world, as well as the Opera House, the building of which resembles a seashell.
• Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria. It has the status of the cultural and sports capital of Australia. This city hosts cultural festivals, concerts, and sports events. The city is also considered the center of Australian fashion and street art. The architecture attracts attention with a unique combination of Victorian-era buildings and skyscrapers.
• Brisbane is the capital of the state of Queensland. It is famous for its subtropical climate, as well as a combination of skyscrapers and colonial architecture. There are many picturesque parks here where you can see and pet a koala.
• Peter is the capital of the state of Western Australia. The city is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the arid Nullarbor Valley.

This is an ideal place for nature lovers. Right in the center of Petra is the Royal Park and Botanical Gardens. And the local zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals.

Adelaide

Adelaide is the administrative center of the state of South Australia. The city is considered the wine capital of Australia. Every year an exhibition of local wine varieties is held here. And in this city you can also visit the National Wine Center. An interactive museum that tells about the local traditions of winemaking.

Near Adelaide there is another interesting place – Kangaroo Island Reserve. Large and small kangaroos, as well as sea lions live there.

Animals of Australia

The mainland is known for its unique flora and fauna. Many representatives of the plant and animal world live only here.

Kangaroo

Kangaroo is Australia’s calling card. The height of the marsupial mammal is from 0.25 m to 1.5 m, and the weight is from 18 kg to 100 kg. The fur is short and thick, the color can be red, black or gray.

These are unique animals. They jump up to 12 m in length and up to 3 m in height. The animal’s forelimbs resemble human hands – they have five fingers, thanks to which kangaroos can pick up objects and get food. Animals can also drink salt water, which is a rarity.

Koala

Koala is another marsupial mammal that lives in Australia. An adult animal weighs about 10 kg, and its height ranges from 60 to 80 cm. It feeds mainly on eucalyptus leaves, from which it gets all the necessary moisture. Koalas practically do not drink water, only during droughts.

Despite its thick fur, the koala is not afraid of heat. Moreover, it is the fur that protects the animal from ultraviolet radiation. And it also does not let moisture through. Therefore, rain is not scary for koalas.

Quokka

Quokka is an animal that resembles a kangaroo. Body length is about 50 cm, weight – from 2.5 to 5 kg.

The quokka digs holes in the grassy thickets, where it waits for darkness to fall and only then comes out. The cute animal is famous for its ability to smile. When its chewing muscles are at rest, the corners of its lips rise and a smile appears on its face.

Wild dingo dog

Wild dingo dog. It was brought to Australia from Asia more than 5,000 years ago. Although they were domestic animals, they went wild on the mainland. The height at the withers of males is up to 70 cm, and the weight is up to 25 kg. The fur is thick and short, mostly red in color.

Unlike its domestic relatives, the wild dingo dog cannot bark. The sound that the animal makes is more like a growl or howl of a wolf.

Australian Echidna

The Australian Echidna is a unique animal with quills like a porcupine, a pouch like a kangaroo, and a beak like a bird. Its furry snout has a proboscis. It also lays eggs.

The Australian echidna feeds on ants, termites and other insects, sometimes small mollusks and worms. It is active during the day, but if the weather is hot it can switch to a nocturnal lifestyle. The animal has no teeth, so the animal swallows food by crushing it in its mouth with its tongue.

Climate of Australia

The main part of the continent is located in the tropical climate zone, where 250-500 mm of precipitation falls per year. Because of this, Australia is considered the driest continent. Even the largest Lake Eyre periodically dries up.

In the east of the continent, the air masses of the Pacific Ocean form a humid tropical climate, which is characterized by abundant precipitation. Summer, the temperature reaches +22…+25C, and in winter – up to +13C.

In the north, the climate is subequatorial, such regions are characterized by wet summers and dry winters. In the south of the continent, summers are hot and dry, and winters are cool. It has a subtropical climate.

Nature of Australia

Most of the continent is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts. Some of the largest deserts are located on the mainland: the Victoria Desert, the Great Sandy Desert, the Gibson Desert.

There are also mountain systems, the largest of which is the Great Dividing Range, which stretches along the southern and southeastern coast. It includes the highest point of Australia – Mount Kosciuszko.

Nature is unique in another phenomenon – pink lakes. One of the most famous is Lake Hillier, which is colored by halobacteria. The lake has a high salt content.

Many national parks and reserves have been created on the mainland. One of the most famous and largest is Kakadu Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to its unique flora and fauna, it is notable for the fact that the local caves have preserved Aboriginal rock paintings.

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