Australian Vocabulary• Great Barrier Reef• Outback• Station• Marsupial• Boomerang• Bush• Tasmania

• Great Dividing Range• Rain Shadow• Parliamentary Democracy• Prime Minister• Canberra• Aussie

Australia: The LandAustralia: The Land Australia is both a continent & a single

country. Sixth largest country in the world and smallest continent.

Mostly flat with desert mid region called the Outback. The Great Dividing Range runs down the continent's eastern edge.

Two major rivers the Murray and Darling rivers drain southern Australia.

Tasmania is Australia’s largest island.

Lies along northern coastWorld’s largest coral reefs and home

to exotic fish and sea creatures.Popular tourist attraction that helps

to boost Australia’s economy.

Australia’s Animals

Australia’s Animals

Has many indigenous animals that can only be found in this region.

Best known for Kangaroos & Koalas. Home to the world’s only egg-laying mammal the duck-billed platypus.

Being isolated and surrounded by water has kept animals from migrating to other places.

Australia’s ClimateAustralia’s ClimateOne of the driest continents in the world. Mostly desert climate that is hot & dry.Western coast receives little to no rain fall from the

Pacific Ocean. Mountains form a rain shadow that block moisture

from the interior.Rain shadow is formed when air moves over the

windward of a mountain range dropping moisture and precipitation which leaves the leeward side dry.

Land not conducive for farming.

Irrigation necessary to grow

crops such as sugar cane and

fruits and vegetables.

Instead of crops, Australia’s

economy depends on vast sheep

and cattle ranches called stations.

World’s top producer and

exporter of wool.

Mines also dot Australia’s

landscape where minerals are mined to be sold on the world market.

Australia’s Government

• In 1901, Australia became a commonwealth.

• Australia has six states and two territories.

• Australia has a British style parliamentary

democracy.

• A prime minister is head of the government the

British Monarchy is the ceremonial leader.

• Many would like for it to become a republic and

free itself of British influence.

Most of the population lives in major industrial cities

along the coast.

More than 90% urban.

Sydney and Melbourne are Australia’s largest cities.

Canberra is the capitol of Australia and was built to

draw people to the interior and outback region of

Australia.

Most people who live in Australia speak English and

refer to themselves as “Aussies”.