Australia

"Aye, matie"  Welcome to Australia, the smallest Continent.
Because Australia is in the southern hemisphere, it is often called
"The Land Down Under"
Australia is the only continent that is its own country.
Remember this before you pack your bag:
Because Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, our seasons are opposite.  That means that when it is winter here, it is summer there.  When it is summer here, it is winter there.
The Land
Australia is a flat dry continent made up of 7 states.
Ocean surrounds the continent.
In fact, the most famous part of Australia is in the ocean.
The GREAT BARRIER REEF is the largest coral reef in the world.
It is located on the northeastern coast of Australia (see the map).
The Great Barrier Reef.

Another famous part of Australia is called the OUTBACK.
The deserts and bush country that make up 85% of Australia is the Outback.

Most people in Australia live along the eastern coast line where the land is more fertile.

       The Opera in Sydney                            A Park on a Beach in Sydney 
The People
The native people of Australia are called ABORIGINES.
The Aborigines live in tribes and live mostly in the Outback and Bush country.
   Children with their grandpa.
Children in school in the Outback country.
Aborigines dancing for a celebration.
In Australia, the Aborigines play a musical instrument called a DIDGERIDOO.
It is made of a hollowed out branch which they decorate.
Here is a didgeridoo  and a picture of an Aborigine playing a didgeridoo.
Click on either picture to hear the sound of this Australian instrument.

The Animals
There are some very interesting animals that live only in Australia.
Among the most famous animals of Australia are...

the kangaroo,                      the koala bear,
     the dingo                                 and the platypus.

To learn more about this interesting continent, check out these sites.

   Trishan's Page of Oz   Australian Facts & Statistics

 
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