AUSTRALIA

SUMMARY

• GENERAL INFORMATIONS• COLONISATION• CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY• COLONISATION• CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY• FAMOUS PLACES IN AUSTRALIA

VOCABULARY• Western - coming or originating from the west• Barren - unproductive; unfruitful (sterile: a barren

woman)• Cattle - bovine animals, especially domesticated

members of the genus Bos• Plateaus - a land area having a relatively level surface

considerably raised above adjoining land on at least one side, and often cut by deep canyons

• Scattered – dispersed; disorganized• Reef - a ridge of rocks or sand, often of coral debris, at

or near the surface of the water

GENERAL INFORMATIONS

• Australia is the smallest continent, but the 6th country relative to the surface ;

• Population is - 20 millions inhabitants- essentially concentrated along the east and south east coast.

• The capital is Camberra.• The country is divided in 6 states and 2 territories : New

South Wales (capital : Sydney), Queensland (Brisbane), South Australia (Adelaide), Victoria (Melbourne), Western Australia (Perth), Tasmania (Hobart), Northern Territory (Darwin), Australian Capital Territory (Camberra).

COLONISATION

• Australia has been inhabited for at least 50,000 years. It was first inhabited by the remote Asian ancestors of the current Australian Aboriginal people. Australia was not discovered by Europeans until the 17th century.

• In the 18th century was founded the penal colony in Sydney. The First Fleet with Convicts arrived at Sydney in 26 January, 1788, went on to mark Australia Day.

• In 1 January 1901, the colonies collectively became states of the Commonwealth of Australia.

CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHYMuch of Australia has a continental climate. The temperatures get hot during the day, then drop considerably at night. Australia is also very arid, getting very little rain.

Australia is famous for its "outback," the desert outback covers most of the interior. It is too hot, dry and barren to support many people.Eastern Australia has large areas of grasslands, used primarily for sheep and cattle ranches.

Australia also has some mountainous areas and plateaus scattered throughout the country. As an island, Australia also has many beautiful coastal beaches.

FAMOUS PLACES IN AUSTRALIA• Great Barrier Reef

• Sydney Harbor Bridge

• Tasmania

• Kimberley in Western Australia

FAMOUS PLACES IN AUSTRALIA• Snowy Mountains,

valley of Barossa

• Melbourne City Shops

• Whitsunday’s islands in Queensland

• Uluru (or Ayers Rock)