Mainland Australia is so small that its area is even smaller than some countries in the world. Its territory is only 7.63 million square kilometers. The most small mainland in and crossed by the southern tropic. Its shores are washed by the waters of the Pacific and Due to its small size, Australia is sometimes also called the mainland-island.
The continent is not connected by land with any of the other continents, it is located completely apart. The rest of the world's continents are at a considerable distance from Australia. This contributed to the formation of a peculiar flora and fauna, in many respects different from others.
Uniqueness of Australia
is unique and vegetable world: 90% of the continent's plants are endemic, found only here. The eucalyptus is considered a symbol of the Australian flora - the most tall tree planet, reaching the height of a fifty-story building.
The smallest continent is also the driest on the planet. Most of it is in the tropical climate zone, resulting in almost all central part The continent is occupied by vast deserts. Australia is also called the lowest continent. 215 meters - average absolute height, and the highest point has a height of only 2230 meters.
past and modern name
"Unknown Land" - that's what they called Australia on old maps. Even today it remains for most people a mysterious land and a country full of surprises. The name of the continents is most often associated with their geographic location, the same applies to Australia: in Latin "australis" means "southern". And this name appeared relatively recently, only in early XIX century. And before that, its individual parts were called by the names that the discoverers gave them. The modern name was finally fixed after sailing around the continent by the Englishman Flinders.
The smallest continent of our planet is also famous for the fact that its territory is completely occupied by one country - Australian Union. by the most big city country is Sydney, known throughout the world for its opera house, the real eighth wonder of the world. Another unusual masterpiece is the Harbor Bridge - a bridge across the beautiful Port Jackson Bay, which has an arch half a kilometer long.
Since school course by geography, many of us remember that the smallest continent on Earth is Australia. Its area is 7.63 km², which is smaller than the territory of some countries. Australia is located in the southern hemisphere and is washed by the waters of 2 oceans (Indian and Pacific). Due to the fact that it is located at a great distance from other continents, a special atmosphere reigns here. natural world. Some species of local animals and plants cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
The uniqueness of the continent
Small size is not the only feature of Australia. hits him animal world. This is the only place in a world where marsupials are found, among which are not only kangaroos, but also marsupial moles and mice.
Oddly enough, but in Australia, even bears and wolves have bags used to carry their offspring. About 80% of all representatives of the animal world of this continent are endemic, that is, those that live exclusively here. Among them: a platypus, an echidna, a dingo dog, a koala, emu ostriches, etc. The platypus, although it is a mammal, still hatches its cubs like a bird from eggs.
At the same time, about 1,500 species of spiders are found in Australia, including poisonous ones (hermit spider, red-backed spider, Sydney leukocobweb spider, etc.). Of the 20 species of snakes, there are poisonous representatives of reptiles (mulga, spiketail, taipan, sea belcher, etc.).
The most dangerous jellyfish, which is called the sea wasp, lives in the coastal waters of the mainland. Just 1 drop of her poison can kill 60 adults at once.
No less amazing is the plant world. The eucalyptus is considered the symbol of Australia. The height of some of its trees is comparable to the size of a fifty-story building.
Another uniqueness of Australia is that this continent is recognized as the driest continent in the world. A significant part of the mainland is located in the tropical zone, so in its central part there are huge deserts. Almost all the rivers that are present here periodically dry up, as they are small and are fed only by rainwater. And the only river that does not dry up throughout the year is the Murray. Its length is 2375 km.
The highest point on the mainland is 2230 meters above sea level, so Australia can also be safely called the lowest on the planet.
Population and economy
Today, about 21.5 million inhabitants live on the continent. Average density population - 0.8 people / 1 km², which is the lowest in the world, if you do not take into account Antarctica. Much of Australia is still uninhabited. Most of the Australian population (about 60%) live in 5 largest cities continent (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide). Oddly enough, the capital of the state, the city of Canberra, is not on this list.
Such uneven settlement of the mainland, scientists associate with climatic conditions these places.
The official currency of Australia is the Australian dollar. Official language- English. Australia is considered one of the most developed countries in all respects.
You can talk about Australia for a very long time. But here is what is most interesting on this continent:
- This continent is the only one where there is not a single active volcano.
- Here you can see many small rivers that regularly change not only their course, but also their location.
- Near the northeastern part of the continent is the largest coral reef on the planet (Great Barrier). Its length is 2.5 thousand km, and the area is 345 km². It is so large that it can be clearly seen even from space. It took millions of polyps to form it. In 1981, this reef was recognized as a world natural heritage and included in the corresponding list of UNESCO.
- Here is the largest farm in the world, the size of pastures which can be compared with the area of such a state as Belgium.
- Australia's most revered animal is the kangaroo. It was even decided to depict him on national emblem. But, despite this, the locals use the meat of this animal in food.
- There are no subways in Australia.
- 1 in 3 mainlanders have never married.
- For choosing not to vote in local elections, every Australian faces a fine.
- Australians are recognized as the most gambling.
- Every 4 inhabitants of Australia were born outside of it.
Recently, I was surprised that my friends were very perplexed simple questions. How many continents are on Earth? How many parts of the world are there? And I was especially surprised that some of them found it difficult to answer the question about the smallest continent, although it would seem that everyone knows this for sure.
The smallest continent on the planet
The smallest continent is Australia. In this case, do not confuse it with part of the world. After all, Australia is part of Australia and Oceania. It is a set of islands located close to the mainland itself. This is a double part of the world!
The total area of Australia is 7,659,861 square kilometers. At the same time, there is only one state of the same name on the mainland. And, contrary to the opinion of many, it is one of the ten largest on the planet, ranking sixth.
Interestingly, the area of the state of Australia is slightly larger than the area of \u200b\u200bthe continent of Australia. This is due to the fact that, among other things, the territory of the country includes several islands located outside the continent. When calculating the area of the state, the water surface adjacent to the coast is also taken into account.
Here are some more numbers about Australia:
- population - 23 million people;
- occupies three time zones;
- opened in 1770.
The most unusual continent
Among other things, Australia surprises not only with its size. This is an extremely unusual continent for many reasons.
To begin with, it should be noted that it was opened last, a little more than 250 years ago. It is also the driest continent.
But the most unusual thing about Australia is its wildlife. Australia was one of the first to separate from a single mainland - Pangea, because evolution went on there as usual.
Unique marsupials live there, they are not found almost anywhere in the world except Australia. I think that many people associate Australia with kangaroos, which are classified as marsupials. In addition, there are the most dangerous spiders and insects. The plant world is formed there in its own way.
So it turns out that Australia is not just the smallest, it is also the most unusual mainland!
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It is impossible to forget the book by Colin McCullough "Morgan's Way" about the development of the mainland island of Australia by British prisoners. I remember bright detailed description nature of one of the most amazing places on the planet. Lush greenery, an abundance of water, unprecedented animals - that's what the Europeans saw, who became the progenitors of the current non-indigenous population. southeastern part Australia is still the most populated territory on the mainland.
The smallest continent
The baby continent is located in southern hemisphere in tropical latitudes. Australia has an area of over 7.5 million square kilometers. most of which is occupied by the desert. Only along the perimeter of the mainland does the zone of savannahs and light forests cover. The climate is dominated by tropical continental. Australia is the driest continent on the planet, all its inland territories are practically waterless.
Most amazing
Due to its remoteness from the rest of the continents of the Earth, Australia has retained unique endemic species and even families of animals and plants:
Here you can find ancient relic life forms.
The pearl of Australia can rightly be called the Great Barrier Reef, bordering the mainland along the Northeast coast. A constantly changing fragile ecosystem - living coral creatures - covers an area of 350 thousand square meters. km and consists of islets and reefs. This is the habitat of the largest fish on the planet - the whale shark, the place of egg-laying of sea turtles and the birth of humpback whales.
The most free
Australia is the most sparsely populated continent, of course, excluding Antarctica. The population density in some places is 1 person per sq. km. km. Even the most populated areas have only 25 people per sq. km. km. About 20 million people live here and more than 150 million sheep live here.
This is the only mainland occupied by one state. Maybe one "master" can save vulnerable and beautiful Australia.
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We live on the largest continent in the world, which bears the proud name of Eurasia. Which one then the smallest continent on our planet and what is he famous for? I will try to answer these questions for you.
Such a big country, such a small continent
Determining the smallest continent on the planet is quite simple. To do this, you just need to look at the world map. Well, have you looked? That's right, this Australia! It is famous for the fact that on its entire area there is only one state that has the same name as the mainland itself.
If you look at Australia from a bird's eye view, then at first glance it may seem ugly, bleak and even boring. Most of it is desert. No wonder it's the driest place in the world!
But it is worth noting that despite this, the country has many pluses:
- she is in the top most developed;
- the most safe;
- level and quality of life its citizens can only be envied.
Australia is also known for here are the lowest and highest points. Compared to other continents, Australia is located below their level. The most low point- Lake Eyre. However, the lake is just a formal name, because there is not a drop of water in it! Its bottom is covered with a layer of salt up to 4 meters thick. And the highest point, located in the Alpine mountain range, Mount Kosciuszko.
planet kangaroo
Since childhood, I adore these marsupials. I remember the first time I saw them at the circus. I was amazed by their power and jumping ability. How developed their hind legs are, and how actively they use their tail!
And why did I start about kangaroos? And not casually! Kangaroo is a symbol of Australia. Here they are invisible! Their individuals are found here most different sizes and colors! Their sizes vary from 60 centimeters and up to 3 meters!
At night, kangaroos come out onto the main roads. Therefore, the Australians even have a special road sign , similar to ours with elk.
Australia - amazing place. If I ever have the opportunity to visit there, I will definitely not miss this opportunity!
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Unfortunately, while I do not have the opportunity to visit this interesting corner of our planet. Therefore, I propose to do with me virtual journey on the "tiny" mainland - Australia.
smallest mainland
Undoubtedly this is australia, its area is 7629000 km², and the country of the same name is the only one in the world at whose disposal whole continent. The population here is the smallest, and living conditions are not the best - driest continent. Conventionally, it is divided into 3 parts:
- central lowland;
- western plateau;
- Great Dividing Range.
Most of the country is occupied juicy man-made pastures where domestic animals graze. Australia is a country with a record number of sheep, and wool production is far ahead of any other country in the world. " calling card» aboriginal - the indigenous population, is boomerang, previously used during hunting, and now sold as a souvenir. Here unique animals live which are not found anywhere else.
Australia - interesting facts
The legislation of this country provides punishment for ignoring elections any level. If a citizen does not appear at the polling station, and subsequently cannot indicate good reason, him face a severe fine.
The longest wall... No, it's not the Great Wall of China, it's Great Australian Fence - 5560 meters. This building serves as a "defense" against ... rabbits. Literally in all parts of the country where pastures are located, there are similar fences to protect against this scourge.
This continent can rightfully be considered country of highway giants. In view of the fact that individual settlements scattered at a considerable distance, long road trains - a vital necessity . Even for sending cargo by rail, the path to the nearest station can be hundreds of kilometers, and powerful trucks often pull up to 10 trailers. Such "trains" are extremely convenient - in just a couple of days, the cargo reaches its destination.
This continent is the only one on which there is no active volcano.
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The continents also include the shallow coastal zones of the seas (shelves) and the islands located near them. Once upon a time, all parts of the world formed one continent - Pangea.
And today there are six that are separated by oceans: Eurasia has the most large area from the planet, its area is 55 million km. sq., South America- 18 million km. sq., Africa - 30 million km. sq., Antarctica - 14 million km. sq., North America- 20 million km. sq., Australia is the smallest continent, its area is 8.5 million km2. sq.
Australia is the smallest continent on the planet
The area of Australia, including the islands, is about 8.9 million km2. sq. Australia is washed by the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Almost in the middle of Australia is the southern tropic. At the base of the relief of this continent is Australian platform. Her West Side raised. The Western Australian Plateau is located here, its height is 400-600 m, crystalline rocks come out on its surface.
In the east of the mainland from the northern peninsula of Cape York to southern Tasmania is a folded region - the Great Dividing Range.
In the old days, Australia was called "Terra incognito", today this land for us remains full of surprises and mysteries. Australia surprises with its diversity. There are endless ocean beaches, beautiful roads. This is the land of coral reefs and wild mustangs. Australia has no rivals in the number of unique animals and plants. The whole country, in fact, is a world-class reserve, while 80% of the animals are endemic, since they are found only here.
This continent, which turned out to be the smallest in the whole world, was first discovered by the Dutch. A significant amount of information was provided by the expedition led by Abel Tasman. He conducted a study of the northwestern and northern shores Australia in 1642-1643, at the same time discovered the island of Tasmania. And James Cook became the discoverer east coast in the 18th century. From the end of the 18th century, the development of Australia began.
Country Australia
Australia is the sixth largest country in terms of area. This is the only state that occupies an entire continent.
The capital of Australia is Canberra. Its area is 7682 thousand km. sq. Its share of the planet's land area is 5%. The population is about 19.73 million people. Of the entire world population, this proportion is 0.3%. The highest point is Mount Kosciuszko (2228 meters above sea level), the lowest point is Lake. Air (16 meters below sea level). The most south point- this is Cape South-East, the most northern is Cape York. The westernmost is Cape Steep Point, the easternmost is Cape Byron. Length coastline is 36,700 km (together with Tasmania).
Administrative division: 2 territories and 6 states. National anthem countries: "Forward, beautiful Australia!" The holiday is Australia Day.
Guess which continent is the largest on Earth? The answer is very simple - it is Eurasia, which is the largest continent in the world, both in terms of size and population. But what about the rest of the continents: North America and South America? Here you will find out the area and population of these continents, as well as some Interesting Facts about each of them.
Distribution of the Earth's continents by area
If we take into account the area of \u200b\u200bthe territory, then all the continents of the world, from largest to smallest, are located in the following order:
- Eurasia: about 55,000,000 square kilometers (21,000,000 square miles), of which about 44,391,162 square kilometers (17,139,445 square miles) fall in Asia and about 10,354,636 square kilometers (3,997,929 square miles) in Europe;
- Africa: 30,244,049 square kilometers (11,677,239 sq mi);
- North America: 24,247,039 square kilometers (9,361,791 sq mi);
- South America: 17,821,029 square kilometers (6,880,706 sq mi);
- Antarctica: 14,245,000 square kilometers (about 5,500,000 square miles);
- Australia: 7,686,884 square kilometers (2,967,909 sq mi).
Distribution of the Earth's continents by population
If we take into account the population, then the distribution of the continents of our planet, from the most to the least populated, is as follows:
- Eurasia: more than 5.2 billion people, of which about 4.5 billion live in Asia and about 742 million in Europe;
- Africa: over 1.2 billion people;
- North America: about 575 million people (including Central America and the Caribbean)
- South America: more than 420 million people;
- Australia: about 23.2 million people;
- Antarctica: there are no permanent residents, but about 5,000 researchers and workers live in the summer and about 1,000 in the winter.
In addition, more than 15 million people do not live on the mainland. Almost all of these people live in the island countries of Oceania, which is a region of the world, but not a continent. Drawing a conclusion from the lists presented above, Eurasia is the leader among all the continents of the world, both in terms of area and population.
Some interesting facts about each continent
- Eurasia includes the largest and smallest countries in the world. Russia is the largest with an area of over 17 million square kilometers, while the Vatican, with an area of 0.44 square kilometers, is the smallest state on the planet. Asia has the highest and lowest points on Earth. Mount Everest is the most high point on the planet - 8,848 meters above sea level. Lowest dead point sea, which is 430 meters below sea level.
- Africa is home to the world's longest river, the Nile. It extends for approximately 6,853 km from Sudan to the Mediterranean Sea.
- North America has the largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Superior. It is part of
