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Australia is the only country in the world that is also a continent. It is the sixth large country and the smallest continent. Australia lies between the South Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. It is situated about 11 000 km southwest of North America and about 8200 km southeast of mainland Asia. The name of the country comes from Latin word «australis»  which mean southern. The country's official name is Commonwealth of Australia.

The Commonwealth of Australia is a federation of states. Australia has six states — New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. Each state has its government. Australia has two territories — the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The capital of the country is Canberra.

Australia is a constitutional monarchy like Great Britain. The? nation is administered under written constitution. The British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is also queen of Australia and country's head of state. But the queen has little power in the Australian government. She serves mainly as a symbol of long historical tie between Great Britain and Australia. Australia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations which is an association formed by Britain and some of its former colonies.

Australia is one of the world's developed countries. Australia has modern factories, highly productive mines and farms, and busy cities. It is the world's leading producer of wool and bauxite <the ore from which aluminium is made). It also produces and exports large amounts of other minerals and farm goods. Income from the export enables Australians to have high standard of living. The most important trading partners of Australia are Japan and the United States.

 

The Climate of Australia  

Australian seasons are the antithesis of those in Europe and North America (because Australia is south of the Equator): summer starts in December (ends in February), autumn in March (ends in May), winter in June (ends in August) and spring in September (ends in November).

Seasonal variations are not extreme and its rare for temperatures to drop below zero on the mainland except in the mountains.

The country occupies the whole continent, so the climate is different in different regions of the country.

Darwin, in the far north, is in the monsoon belt, where there are just two seasons: hot and wet, and hot and dry.

The southern states are popular during the summer months, but the best time to visit is probably the seasons of spring or autumn when the weather in the south is mild. Spring in the outback can be spectacular if rains encourage wildflowers. 
Average annual temperatures vary from about 27 °C in the north of the continent to 13 °C in the south. Floods and cyclones are rather common along the coast of the continent.

Summer (December-February) can get uncomfortably hot just about anywhere, except Tasmania. If you're in the southern states during these months its great beach weather. Up north, this is the wet season, when it's very, very humid and when the sea abounds with box jellyfish.

From June until August things have cooled down a little and dried up a lot up north. This is a good time to visit Queensland or the outback. If you're here for the skiing, now's the time to head for the snowfields of Victoria and New South Wales. Overall, spring and autumn are probably the safest bets — the weather is reasonably mild wherever you are, and spring brings out the wild-flowers in the outback, while autumn is particularly beautiful in Canberra and in the Victorian Alps.

Between the arid interior and the well-watered coasts lies a wide belt with average annual precipitation of about 760 mm.

 

The Animals of Australia  

There are many animals in Australia that you cannot see anywhere else. Did you know that? Of course, you did! I personally divide Australian animals into three categories: the good, the bad, the ugly. I think, it's reasonable.

Talking of the good animals, we should mention kangaroos in the first place.

There are many different types of kangaroo. The biggest are the great grey kangaroos. They are 213 centimetres tall and can run at 56 kilometres per hour. Some run from you then stop and stare. Though we have put kangaroos in the «Good» category, farmers might disagree.

Wombats and koalas have many similarities and are probably related. Both have pockets inside their mouths to store food and neither has a tail. The number of koalas is getting smaller. This is partly because of fumes from bush fires. Rescue teams help the koalas by catching them, putting them on respirators, then returning them to their original location when they are better. Australia also has a lot of native marsupial mice that live in the desert. Many of these only come out at night.

You know, there are many animals that are «unpopular» in Australia including spiders which are dangerous. You can find these in Sydney. If they are hungry, they will attack anything that moves. They have sharp teeth and poison. Luckily, there is an antidote if you can get to hospital quickly. There have been 12 deaths since 1927.

Another animal with sharp teeth and a fatal bite is the shark. However, there are normally a lot of beach patrols and protective nets to stop these from eating you for breakfast. Other animals that are a problem for beach lovers are jellyfish. They look like bubbles of blue bubble gum and they have a painful sting therefore people do not swim when there are many in the water. Other «unpopular» animals include dingoes. These are a cross between wolves and dogs. They are unpopular because they eat farmers' animals.

Now what about the ugly animals? A word that people often use to describe a cane toad is ugly! Other words include fat, noisy and disgusting. They are also as big as footballs! The Queensland Government brought cane toads to Australia to eat cane beetles. Unfortunately cane toads can't fly but cane beetles can. Now the toads are more of a problem than the beetles. Hundreds of thousands are born every year. The toads eat everything including rare Australian animals. The toads are also poisonous to eat. Animals that eat them die. Though they are unpopular animals, some people like them and keep them as pets or write songs about them.

There are a number of types of crocodiles found in northern Australia, ranging from the potentially dangerous saltwater crocodiles to smaller, more shy, harmless varieties.

They have got snakes too although fears of the poisonous types are largely exaggerated. They are generally shy creatures, only too ready to avoid trouble. The taipan and the tiger are worth keeping away from.

That is only a small selection of the creatures of the country. Others include penguins, turtles, seals and possums.

In the dry areas, you can see an amazing variety of lizards; some grow to a very hefty size.

Sydney

Sydney is rightly recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in the world - it is the most cosmopolitan , the most fun and the most beautiful city in the country . Contrast City skyscrapers and old buildings Rocks and King 's Cross , souvenir shops in the Yorks and Elizabeth , and Asian neighborhoods of Chinatown and Liverpool Street, huge green spaces, parks and boulevards and modern buildings of the Olympic facilities Kronos Hill, Sydney Olympic and Syuperdom Stedium in Homebush , the majestic Sydney Harbour and thrown over her unique single-span Harbour Bridge up to 503 metra.Vspomnim a lot of movies , delivered by different authors Goliivuda , and find in them zanmenitye grandiose bridges and skyscrapers .

Oxford Street's focused a lot of bars and restoranov.Rayon Darling Harbour - famous galleries, bars, hotels and restaurants. George Street and Market Street - the best shopping in the city. In the city sunbathe on the gorgeous beaches of Bondi and Manly , the most famous beach in the country, where the golden sand stretches for a kilometer in length.

The world's largest Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour or the zoo Toronga .

Sydney Opera House - a symbol of Sydney. Lookout "Armchair Mrs. McGuire ." carved into the rock. "House of Queen Victoria ." The Royal Botanic Gardens , where an extensive collection of plants collected from around the world . Sydney has a lot of interesting sights - the famous Sydney Museum of History and Anthropology, Australian Military Memorial Art Gallery , the National Maritime Museum, are collected all of the sea , and boats - from boats to battleships Aboriginal and surfboards , the Art Gallery of New South Wales , the Museum applied Arts and Sciences , one of the most " daring " museums - the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Antiquities Nicholson , Australia Wild Animal Park and Hyde Park . Be sure to visit the promenade near Woolloomooloo and plant opals , where you can not only learn all about these amazing rocks, but also to see the whole process of converting ordinary-looking rock in jewels (Australia produces 90% of the world's opals ) . Here you can buy jewelry from black opals , pearls or colored diamonds.

Melbourne  

Melbourne is still playing a leading role in the cultural and sporting life of the country - the majority of Australian exhibitions, events and conferences worldwide held here. Most of the tourists coming to Melbourne in the first place tend to see the famous resort surroundings - Island Phillip Island with its amazing " Penguin Parade ," one of the symbols of Australia - " the Great Ocean Road and the scenic coast eroded in the south- west Victoria, the beautiful National Park of Port Campbell, which is famous for its extraordinary collection of limestone " sculptures " , and include the famous " Twelve Apostles ", " London Bridge " and Loch Ard gorge . Be sure to visit the forest Otueyz - Reyndzhiz gulfs between Apollo Bay and Lorne . ancient town of gold diggers - Sovereign Hill , near Ballarat . " open air museum " can be seen Australia era, " gold rush ." tour in Dandenong Ranges , located 50 km . from Melbourne , where you can ride through the dense forest with a huge variety of Australian and imported flora in an old train " Paffing Billy "(" Puffing Billy. "

 

 

Perth 

Perth - a large , developed, young and modern city , lying on the banks of the wide Swan River .

Perth and its satellite city of Fremantle occupy a large area , all of life is concentrated in two places: in the " City" - the heart of Perth , and the business center of Fremantle .

The Gallery of Fine Arts exhibits works of Western Australia and Australian foreign masters , masterpieces of traditional art aborigenov.Ne less interesting Western Australian Museum , which tells about the nature of the state , its history, the largest meteorite crater in the world Wolf Creek , about the natives - natives . In the evening you can visit any of the dozens of chic restaurants , casino and Burswood . In addition, in Perth is a huge number. Nearby Perth's interesting to explore the world's largest open gold and nickel deposits in the Kalgoorlie area , as well as mines the world's largest diamond-bearing area of Kimberley. Art Gallery of Western Australia. The special climate south of Perth helped preserve the unique forests of giant trees " curry " and the Margaret River evolved into one of the major wine regions of the country.

 

 

Alice Springs

Alice Springs is the starting point of many routes to Ayers Rock , the foot of the mountain range McDonnell - is mountainous landscapes of deep canyons, red cliffs , secluded Billabong , bottomless abyss , lifeless sand and green oases , scenic gorges Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm , picturesque lake big Hole and Ormiston . Arltangu - " ghost town " , abandoned since the " Gold Rush ." At 150 km . to the south- west of Alice Springs , in the national park " Finke Gorge " is Palm Valley - an amazing natural formation , which is overgrown with palm trees tsikadnymi ancient valley surrounded by barren deserts.

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef - " underwater mecca " of all scuba divers around the world. Cairns - one of the most exotic corners of Australia, the "gate" of the Great Barrier Reef and the main resort of the north of the country. You can make a trip to the National Park of Staten River, visit the mountain village of Kuranda Reserve 's famous tropical butterfly conservatory , a ride on a vintage train on a mountain road, past waterfalls and rain forests . In Kuranda has a variety of shops and stores. Then go down to the sea by a cable car " Skaytreyl " laid over impenetrable forests , or visit the village of Aboriginal Tzhapukai , where tourists hold special performances with local songs and dances , making fire by friction and throwing a spear or boomerang . 

 

Thrill-seekers and wildlife are invited to an unforgettable jeep safari through the rainforest or on a rafting rafting on the famous mountain river Tully River. Finally , you can simply relax on the endless deserted beaches , stretching from mOsm to Eyre, a tour of the beautiful plateau Ettenton or drive through a string of enchanting beaches, stretching for 50 km . north of Port Douglas , to admire the spectacular scenery of Cape Tribulation pribrezhnymy ( "Cape of Misfortune " ) or the Daintree River .

Magnetic Island Island is probably the best place in the world for diving and yachting . Here the marvelous beaches of coral sand , fine hotels and virtually untouched wildlife - there is even a colony of koalas . Island Lizard Island ( Lizard ) - one of the most exclusive resorts in the world. This is the most northern , the most famous , the most expensive resort Barrier Reef. This exceptional comfort , fine cuisine , beautiful beaches , fishing , excellent diving ( stingrays , manta rays , moray eels , etc.) , tennis , cruises , trips to the reefs , water skiing , swimming pool , restaurants, bars, etc. .