|RConstitution:|N Federal republic type, but formally monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations.
|RNational holiday:|N Australia Day, January 26.
|RNature and climate:|N Australia is a very flat continent, mainly lowlands and plateaus, above which only occasional mountains and mountainchains raises. Highest peak in the Australalps 2 230 m.a.s.l. Greatest lake, Lake Eyre, lies 12 m under sea level.
Most of the continent has a warm and dry climate, why large parts are deserts or steppes. Common percipitation between 100 and 500 mm. In the southmost parts though, between 500 and 1000 mm.
In Australia lives many animals that are not found anywhere else, for example the kangaroo.
Northern Australia has an average temperature of 25°C - 28°C the whole year.
In the south + 10°C in July and + 20°C in January.
|RPeople:|N Extermination threatened the original population, the aborigines, but since 1960 there has been a slight growth of this population. Now 1,5% of the total population.
The original population on Tasmania was totally exterminated during the 19th century.
The population consists of immigrated Britons, 95%, and Chinese, 4%.
|REconomy:|N Australia is the world leading exporter of sheep's wool. Also exports a lot of meat, corn and sugar.
Australia has many minerals. Extracted are gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, coal, iron ore, bauxite, tin, nickel, uranium and oil.
Extensive industry of various kinds.
|RHistory:|N Caucasoid people migrated from South Asia about 40 000 years ago and spread all over the Australian continent. They were hunters and gatherers and lived in small kin-based groups. When the Europeans arrived here were more than 500 different groups speaking several hundred different languages.
Dutch and Spanish sailors discovered Australia during the 17th century, but the colonization was started by the Britons at the end of the 18th century through James Cook.
Penalty colony from 1788. The population grew very slowly till 1851 when gold was found, thereafter very quickly.
Consists of the independent states New Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, South Wales, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory of Canberra. These states in 1901 constituated the Commonwealth of Australia. Member of the Commonwealth of Nations and recognizes the British monarch as head of state.
