Australia Made by: Lyamkina Yulia

Commonwealth of Australia

Some facts Capital: Canberra Capital: Canberra Largest city: Sydney Largest city: Sydney National language: English National language: English Ethnic groups:Australian Ethnic groups:Australian Australian Aboriginal Australian Aboriginal Asian Asian Europian Europian

Government: Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy Government: Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II Governor-General: Quentin Bryce Governor-General: Quentin Bryce Prime Minister: Kevin Rudd Prime Minister: Kevin Rudd Currency: Australian dollar (AUD) Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)

Some facts Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the mainland of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous other islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the mainland of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous other islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceanssouthern hemispheremainlandcontinentTasmaniaother islandsIndianPacific Oceanssouthern hemispheremainlandcontinentTasmaniaother islandsIndianPacific Oceans

Australia

Etymology The name Australia is derived from the Latin Australis, meaning "Southern". Legends of an "unknown land of the south" (terra australis incognita) date back to Roman times and were commonplace in medieval geography but were not based on any documented knowledge of the continent. The name Australia is derived from the Latin Australis, meaning "Southern". Legends of an "unknown land of the south" (terra australis incognita) date back to Roman times and were commonplace in medieval geography but were not based on any documented knowledge of the continent.Australia Latinterra australis incognitaAustralia Latinterra australis incognita

History Human habitation of Australia is estimated to have begun between 42,000 and 48,000 years ago. These first Australians may have been ancestors of modern Indigenous Australians; they may have arrived via land bridges and short sea-crossings from what is now South-East Asia. Most of these people were hunter- gatherers, with a complex oral culture and spiritual values based on reverence for the land and a belief in the Dreamtime. The Torres Strait Islanders, ethnically Melanesian, were originally horticulturalists and hunter-gatherers Human habitation of Australia is estimated to have begun between 42,000 and 48,000 years ago. These first Australians may have been ancestors of modern Indigenous Australians; they may have arrived via land bridges and short sea-crossings from what is now South-East Asia. Most of these people were hunter- gatherers, with a complex oral culture and spiritual values based on reverence for the land and a belief in the Dreamtime. The Torres Strait Islanders, ethnically Melanesian, were originally horticulturalists and hunter-gatherersland bridgesSouth-East Asiahunter- gatherersoral cultureDreamtimeTorres Strait IslandersMelanesianland bridgesSouth-East Asiahunter- gatherersoral cultureDreamtimeTorres Strait IslandersMelanesian

A replica of Lieutenant Cook's ship HM Bark Endeavour in Cooktown Harbour A replica of Lieutenant Cook's ship HM Bark Endeavour in Cooktown Harbour HM Bark EndeavourCooktown HM Bark EndeavourCooktown

In 1770, James Cook sailed along and mapped the east coast of Australia, which he named New South Wales and claimed for Great Britain. In 1770, James Cook sailed along and mapped the east coast of Australia, which he named New South Wales and claimed for Great Britain.James CookJames Cook

Port Arthur, Tasmania was Australia's largest gaol for transported convicts Port Arthur, Tasmania was Australia's largest gaol for transported convicts Port Arthur, Tasmania gaol Port Arthur, Tasmania gaol

Politics The Commonwealth of Australia is a constitutional democracy based on a federal division of powers. The form of government used in Australia is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of Australia, a role that is distinct from her position as monarch of the other Commonwealth realms The Commonwealth of Australia is a constitutional democracy based on a federal division of powers. The form of government used in Australia is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of Australia, a role that is distinct from her position as monarch of the other Commonwealth realms constitutional democracy federal constitutional monarchy parliamentary system Queen Elizabeth IIQueen of Australia Commonwealth realms constitutional democracy federal constitutional monarchy parliamentary system Queen Elizabeth IIQueen of Australia Commonwealth realms

Parliament House in Canberra was opened in 1988, replacing the provisional Parliament House building opened in Parliament House in Canberra was opened in 1988, replacing the provisional Parliament House building opened in Parliament House Canberra provisional Parliament House building Parliament House Canberra provisional Parliament House building

There are three branches of government: three branches of governmentthree branches of government The legislature: the Commonwealth Parliament, comprising the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives; the Queen is represented by the Governor-General, who by convention acts on the advice of his or her Ministers. The legislature: the Commonwealth Parliament, comprising the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives; the Queen is represented by the Governor-General, who by convention acts on the advice of his or her Ministers.Commonwealth ParliamentCommonwealth Parliament The executive: the Federal Executive Council (the Governor-General as advised by the Executive Councillors); in practice, the councillors are the Prime Minister and Ministers of State. The executive: the Federal Executive Council (the Governor-General as advised by the Executive Councillors); in practice, the councillors are the Prime Minister and Ministers of State.Federal Executive CouncilFederal Executive Council The judiciary: the High Court of Australia and other federal courts. Appeals from Australian courts to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the United Kingdom ceased when the Australia Act was passed in The judiciary: the High Court of Australia and other federal courts. Appeals from Australian courts to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the United Kingdom ceased when the Australia Act was passed in 1986.High Court of Australia federal courts Judicial Committee of the Privy CouncilAustralia ActHigh Court of Australia federal courts Judicial Committee of the Privy CouncilAustralia Act

The official residence The official residence of the Governor-General of Australia The official residence of the Governor-General of Australia Governor-General of Australia The official residence Governor-General of Australia

States and territories Australia has six states and two major mainland territories. There are also lesser territories that are under the administration of the federal government. Australia has six states and two major mainland territories. There are also lesser territories that are under the administration of the federal government. The states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The two major mainland territories are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory The states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The two major mainland territories are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital TerritoryNew South WalesQueensland South AustraliaTasmaniaVictoriaWestern AustraliaNorthern TerritoryNew South WalesQueensland South AustraliaTasmaniaVictoriaWestern AustraliaNorthern Territory

Australian States and mainland Territories Australian States and mainland Territories

Geography Australia's landmass of 7,617,930 square kilometres (2,941,300 sq mi)[41] is on the Indo- Australian Plate. Surrounded by the IndianN4 and Pacific oceans, Australia is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas. Australia has 34,218 kilometres (21,262 mi) of coastline (excluding all offshore islands)[42] and claims an extensive exclusive economic zone of 8,148,250 square kilometres (3,146,060 sq mi). This exclusive economic zone does not include the Australian Antarctic Territory. Australia's landmass of 7,617,930 square kilometres (2,941,300 sq mi)[41] is on the Indo- Australian Plate. Surrounded by the IndianN4 and Pacific oceans, Australia is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas. Australia has 34,218 kilometres (21,262 mi) of coastline (excluding all offshore islands)[42] and claims an extensive exclusive economic zone of 8,148,250 square kilometres (3,146,060 sq mi). This exclusive economic zone does not include the Australian Antarctic Territory.[41]Indo- Australian PlateN4ArafuraTimor[42]exclusive economic zone[41]Indo- Australian PlateN4ArafuraTimor[42]exclusive economic zone

Climatic zones in Australia

Ecology Although most of Australia is semi-arid or desert, it includes a diverse range of habitats from alpine heaths to tropical rainforests, and is recognised as a megadiverse country. Because of the continent's great age, its extremely variable weather patterns, and its long-term geographic isolation, much of Australia's biota is unique and diverse. About 85% of flowering plants, 84% of mammals, more than 45% of birds, and 89% of in-shore, temperate-zone fish are endemic Although most of Australia is semi-arid or desert, it includes a diverse range of habitats from alpine heaths to tropical rainforests, and is recognised as a megadiverse country. Because of the continent's great age, its extremely variable weather patterns, and its long-term geographic isolation, much of Australia's biota is unique and diverse. About 85% of flowering plants, 84% of mammals, more than 45% of birds, and 89% of in-shore, temperate-zone fish are endemic alpinetropical rainforestsmegadiverse countrybiota birdsendemic alpinetropical rainforestsmegadiverse countrybiota birdsendemic

The koala and the eucalyptus forming an iconic Australian pair koalaeucalyptuskoalaeucalyptus