Living In Australia
In terms of land area, Australia is approximated to be about 7,692,024 sq.km and is the 6th largest nation in the world after Brazil, Canada, China, The USA and Russia. However, population wise, the country has a relatively smaller population than most of these nations. The interesting thing about Australia is that it is the only nation that governs an entire continent and a couple of outlying islands.
Australia is a nation of many contrasts. For instance, mainland Australia is not only the largest island but it also is the smallest and flattest continent on the planet. It lies between 10 degrees and 39 degrees south latitude, and its highest point is Mount Kosciuszko, which is only about 2,220 meters high. The continent is the driest occupied landmass on the earth. The mainland’s interior experiences some of the driest weather and has the lowest rainfall measurements with about half of its land being arid or semi-arid.
However, the fertile parts of the nation are effectively utilized and well-watered; making Australia food source for the world despite the dry weather. Cattle and sheep are grazed in the drier parts of the country; however, care needs to be taken as some of the grazing lands became deserts when cycles in Australia turned into drought.
AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION
The Australian Federation is made up of 6 states and two territories, and most of its inland borders follow the longitude and latitude lines. The largest state in Australia, Western Australia, is about the size of Western Europe. The country’s government is a federal parliamentary democracy under a Commonwealth realm. The chief of state in Australia is the Queen while the head of government in the country is the Prime Minister. The nation has a mixed economic system where its economy includes a barrage of private freedom that is combined with centralized economic planning and governmental regulation. The nation is a member of APEC or Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
FACTS ABOUT AUSTRALIA
Residents and citizens of Australia are known as Australians, and there were about 23,130, 900 people living in the nation as of 2013. Now, the interesting thing about the nation, however, is that about one out of every four Australian was born in another country, or either one or both of their parents was born overseas. Only 2% of the population is made up by indigenous citizens and these are the Torres Strait Islanders and the Aboriginals.
Australia’s capital is Canberra. However, there are seven other major cities in and around the continent, and that is where 70% of the nation’s population is in. Despite the fact that Canberra is the capital, other cities like Sydney, which is the largest city in the country, have more influence both locally and internationally.
Economy wise, Australia is amongst the wealthiest nations in the world despite its sharp contrasts. It uses the Australian Dollar, denoted as AUS and its economy is the 12th largest in the world. In 2014, the nation had the 5th highest per capita income in the world. It also has the 2nd highest human development indexes in the world and ranks highly in different aspects of health, economic freedom, life, and the protection of political rights and civil liberties.
LIVING IN AUSTRALIA
As a person looking to move to Australia for further education, it is essential that you know all about the quality and standards of life in the nation. Australia is a beautiful nation with wonderful cultures, arts, and traditions. It is, therefore, important that you know what Australia has to offer if you want to understand how life in the nation is like.
Every aspect of the Australian culture and life, be it it’s truly great outdoors or matey attitudes, is a product of its population and scale or the lack of it. Nonetheless, the energy that is found in its contemporary cultures is in very large contrast to its landscape which is mostly ancient and looks like it. It is because of such details that Australia is a great place to be in.
There is plenty to see and experience in Australia. From geographical to social to architectural wonders, this is one nation that you cannot miss finding something to do or explore. One of its most iconic sceneries is the great Outback, a vast fabled desert. It spreads west of the Great Range into the Australia’s epic interior and is dotted with deserted gorges, cinnamon-red earth and is home to bizarre wildlife and one of the unique ecologies.
Apart from the great Outback, other great places to explore when in Australia is its coasts. The nation has been forced to become more of a coastal country because of the harsh interior conditions. This has led to the development of most centers and cities along the coasts of the nation and one such city is Sydney – home to great cultural, architectural and social aspects like the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
The interesting thing is that most of the nation’s population lives within 20 kilometers of the ocean. While the hot and arid conditions are quite harsh for those inland, they are quite welcome to those along the coastal region. In the same time, it seems like summer takes up most days of the year with hot sunny days. When in Australia, take time and enjoy some time to enjoy a dip in the ocean.
Australia’s ocean front is one of the most unique and features two of the biggest natural attractions in the world. They include the 2000-kilometer-long Great Barrier Reef that is just off the Queensland Coast and the Uluru, a brooding monolith of Ayers Rock. In your stay in Australia, you should make sure that you visit these.
Now the interesting thing about Australia is that there is so much to see and to do and to experience. As such, it is important that you take time to learn even more about what the nation has to offer despite its deep contrasts. From arid interiors, to the green and plush of the east coast, to the tropical rainforests in the north, and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia is a beautiful and outstanding place to live in and to enjoy.