Vast expanses of Australia are covered by deserts, but rich mineral resources and efficient agriculture have turned it into a prosperous country.

Square: 7,862,300 km2

Population: 19 485 000

Capital: Canberra (353,000 people)

Main religions: Catholicism, Protestantism (Anglican Church, United Church)

Main export items: meat and dairy products, grain, metal ores, coal, oil and oil products, heavy industry products

State. build: state headed by the Queen of Great Britain, member of the Commonwealth

Australia, in addition to the mainland, washed by the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, includes the large island of Tasmania, as well as many small islands scattered along its coastline 25,760 km long. Over the past 30 million years, Australia has not experienced any major tectonic movements. During this time, water and wind have turned its surface into a flat and uniform space. More than 93% of the country's territory is located at elevations below 600 m. The climate in Australia is predominantly dry, and about ¾ of its area is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts. Stretching along the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the Great Dividing Range separates the uninhabited territories of the west from the densely populated areas of the east coast. The most multilingual city in the country, Sydney, is located here. The separation of the Australian mainland from Pangea and the subsequent 65 million years of isolation from the rest of the world led to the fact that animals appeared in Australia that you will not find anywhere else on the planet - the platypus and wombat, not to mention koalas, kangaroos, emu and a huge the number of parrots. The fauna of Australia is so amazing that even for their coat of arms, the Australians chose images of emus and kangaroos. It is believed that people appeared in Australia about 40,000 years ago. Having settled most of the mainland, the natives led a nomadic lifestyle and created a unique culture. At present, the indigenous inhabitants of Australia make up only 2% of the population, the majority of which is represented by the descendants of Europeans who appeared here in the 18th century. The urban population is concentrated in large urban districts - Melbourne, Victoria, Brisbane, Queensland, Perth in Western Australia and Adelaide in South Australia, as well as in the capital city of Canberra.

EASTERN AUSTRALIA

rich natural resources Eastern Australia is the most economically developed and urbanized region of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Australia is made up of four states and two territories. Eastern Australia includes the states of Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and the Capital Territory with Canberra as its capital. Canberra became the seat of government in 1927, after the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901 and its acquisition of dominion status. Canberra is the only major city located far from the coast. Despite the fact that Eastern Australia accounts for 30% of the entire coastline of the state, fish catches here are small and do not exceed 215 thousand tons per year. More than half of the income comes from seafood such as lobster, shrimp and oysters. Along the eastern coast stretches a strip of plains - the main agricultural region of the country. Dominates in the relief of the Great Dividing Range region - steep Mountain chain, stretching along almost the entire Pacific coast from north to south from Queensland to Victoria. The average height of the ridge is about 1200 m, and its highest peaks are located in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, where the highest peak of the continent is located - Mount Kosciuszko (2228 m). Large coal deposits are also concentrated here, which allowed Australia to join the ranks of the world's largest exporters of this energy carrier. To the west of the Great Dividing Range, the relief gradually decreases, forming a vast flat surface, the main element of which is the Great Artesian Basin, a huge reservoir of groundwater widely used for irrigation. The largest river system in the region is the Murray-Darling system with a total length of 3750 km and a catchment area of ​​more than 1 million square meters. km. Eastern Australia became the first region of the mainland, mastered by Europeans.

GREAT BARRIER REEF

One of the wonders of nature - the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef in the world - stretches for almost 2 thousand km along the coast of Queensland. This is the largest coral formation on the planet, represented by more than 350 species of polyps, includes over 3 thousand reefs and covers an area of ​​more than 350 thousand square meters. km. Coral reefs can exist in water that stays between 22-28°C throughout the year, providing habitat for the most diverse animal community known on earth. More than 1,500 species of fish live within the Great Barrier Reef - a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. Humpback whales breed here, as well as six of the world's seven species of sea turtles. Dugongs, an endangered species of mammals, hide in shallow seaweeds off the islands of the reef. More than 200 species of birds find food in coral thickets. Every year up to 2 million tourists come here to admire the beauties of nature. But this threat lurks the existence of the reef. Fragile corals are easily destroyed by divers and pleasure boats. Go-byat corals also pollution and rising temperatures sea ​​water. Another threat comes from sea stars that are rapidly eating coral.

INTRODUCED ANIMALS

Some animal species were brought to Australia by humans. However, some of the "settlers" had a detrimental effect on the environment. The introduced dingoes, and later foxes and rats, pushed back or exterminated the local representatives of the fauna. Cane toad and rabbit, having multiplied incredibly, have become the main pests of agriculture, destroying fragile natural ecosystems. Other imported animals, on the contrary, became the basis of Australia's agriculture. There are more than 110 million sheep and 29 million head of cattle in the country. In agricultural areas, over 90% of the used land is allocated for pastures. More than 1/3 of the total number of cattle is concentrated in Queensland, and in New South Wales there are up to 40 million sheep. Herds are kept on large farms, here called "stations", or sheep pastures with an area of ​​up to 12 thousand square meters. km. In order to cross the land of only one farm, you need a light aircraft. With such a base, Australia is the world's largest exporter of meat and dairy products, as well as a leader in the production of wool.

POPULATION OF AUSTRALIA

The exploration of Australia began in the 17th century. Dutchman Abel Janszon Tasman and Englishman William Dampier. In 1768, the English government organized an expedition to conduct geographical research on pacific ocean. This expedition, led by Captain James Cook, reached the east coast of Australia in 1770. Cook called this land New South Wales and declared it the possession of the British crown. In 1788, English ships delivered the first convicts to Sydney Bay. The native population after the arrival of the English-chan was subjected to persecution and violence. In the 1850s the transportation of exiles was stopped and free residents of the British Isles began to arrive on the mainland. The discovery in 1851 of gold in the state of Victoria and the subsequent "gold rush" attracted thousands of seekers of fortune from Europe and Asia. After the Second World War, the government passed a series of laws encouraging resettlement in Australia, and a flood of 5.5 million immigrants poured into the country. More than half of the settlers came from Great Britain, but there were also many of them from Germany, Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia (now does not exist, but in the 20th century it included Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro). Until 1973, only whites were allowed to enter the country, so there were no more than 6% of immigrants from Asian countries and their descendants in Australia. In 1974 the racist immigration policy was

was canceled and Southeast Asians came to the country. The population of the country is represented by 150 nationalities. About 68% of the inhabitants are Christians and more than 13% consider themselves atheists. The country speaks English language, but with a special pronunciation and many local expressions and turns. The standard of living of Australians is generally high, but the income gap between the rich and the poor remains very large. While maintaining its old ties with its traditional partner, Great Britain, Australia is expanding its trade with the US and Asian countries. Although the 1999 referendum showed that the majority of the population prefers to have the British monarch as head of state, many Australians, especially young people, want to live in a state with a republican system.

CITIES IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA

On the east coast of Australia there are three largest cities - state capitals: Melbourne - the capital of Victoria, Brisbane - the capital of Queensland and Sydney - the capital of New South Wales. Sydney, located in a picturesque bay, is the most populated city and financial center of the country. Sydney receives more than 4.9 million foreign tourists annually - more than any other Australian city.

RIGHTS OF THE NATIVES

Before the appearance of the first Europeans, up to 1 million natives lived on the mainland, who were engaged in hunting, fishing and barter. The immigrants brought with them new diseases against which the natives had no immunity. They died by the thousands from venereal diseases, tuberculosis and the common cold virus. More were killed in skirmishes with the settlers, many of whom treated the natives as bloodthirsty savages. They were discriminated against, deprived of land and driven into reservations, forcing them to change their way of life. Aboriginal children, called the "stolen generation", were taken from their parents and given to orphanages or white families. Until the mid 1960s. adult natives did not even have the right to vote. Since then, there has been clear progress in this direction. In 1967, Aboriginal people received the right to vote, and then a series of laws were passed recognizing their rights to own land. The next step towards improving the life of the indigenous population was the measures aimed at increasing their level of well-being and education. Recently, interest in Aboriginal culture and art has increased in Australia and around the world. However, despite all this, the Aborigines remain the poorest and most disadvantaged of all Australians, and their average life expectancy is 15 years less than that of the rest of the population.

TASMANIA

Tasmania - the smallest of the states of Australia with a population of 473 thousand people - occupies the island of the same name, which is separated from the mainland by Bass Strait.

The area of ​​the state of Tasmania, including the islands of Flinders, King, Cape Barren and others, is about 68 thousand square meters. km - this is less than 1% of the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe whole of Australia. Even 9,000 years ago, the island was connected to the mainland and geologically is a continuation of the Great Dividing Range. Most of Tasmania is occupied by a low plateau framed by a chain of mountain peaks. The island is crossed by many fast-flowing streams that are used to generate hydro-electricity. The central, eastern and northern parts of Tasmania are occupied by arable land, meadows and vineyards. In the western, less economically developed areas, vast areas are covered with rainforest, dominated by trees of typical Australian species, among which the blue eucalyptus is the symbol of the island. Long-term isolation of Tasmania has led to the emergence of unusual species of animals that are not found anywhere else on Earth - the Tasmanian devil, the ground parrot and the Tasmanian wolf, or thylacine. The forestry and mining industries play an important role in Tasmania's economy, but the state authorities strive to preserve natural landscapes whenever possible. Most of the population is engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. A few industrial enterprises are concentrated in the south of the island near Hobart, the main port of the state and the oldest city in the country after Sydney. The settlement of Tasmania by aborigines began more than 35 thousand years ago, when it was still part of the mainland. However, after the arrival of Europeans, disease and war sharply reduced the number of indigenous people, whose share is now less than 3%.

CENTRAL AUSTRALIA

Central Australia, which includes the states of the Northern Territory and South Australia, is a vast, low-lying region with an arid climate.

Most of Central Australia is occupied by deserts (Tanami, Simpson and the Great Victoria Desert), framed by a belt of scrabblelands - semi-deserts with thorny shrubs. Several mountain ranges rise in the center of the region: the McDonnell Range, which stretches 200 km west of the city of Alice Springs, and the Musgrave Range, rising south of Uluru (Ayers Rock). To the north, semi-deserts turn into sa-baths, which are replaced by rain forests and vast coastal marshes. IN southern regions lowlands predominate, the monotony of which is broken by the Flinders Range, covered with dense tropical vegetation. To the east and west of the mountain range there are large lakes - depressions, covered with a salt crust for a significant part of the year and only from time to time filled with water. The largest - Lake Eyre - is located 16 m below sea level. Its catchment area exceeds 1 million square meters. km, and it happens that it spills over an area of ​​9 thousand square meters. km. Australia's main river, the Murray, also ends here, flowing into the ocean east of Adelaide.

CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE

South Australia is considered the driest state in the country. On the coast, the climate is sub-tropical with a large amount of precipitation, while in the interior the climate is arid and the annual rainfall does not exceed 300 mm. A hot and arid climate prevails in most of the Northern Territory. However, near the coast of this state, a tropical climate dominates with heavy rainfall up to 1800 mm per year, most of which falls on the monsoon season - from November to April. In the arid regions of both states, where conditions permit, cattle and sheep are bred. In the south of South Australia, more fertile soils allow for higher yields of wheat, barley, oats, fruits and vegetables. Thanks to the developed irrigation system in the Barossa Valley (South Australia), grapes are harvested most of all in the country. The wine industry in Australia has developed very intensively over the past 20 years, but the country produces excellent wines that are exported to many countries of the world. Tropical fruits and vegetables grow on the coast of the Northern Territory, including citrus fruits and bananas. Australia's highly efficient agriculture allows it not only to fully meet its food needs, but also to take a leading position among the world's suppliers of meat, milk, cheese, wool, as well as wheat, wine, and fruit.

OUTDOOR POPULATED REGION

Central Australia - a region with small population, the main part of which is concentrated in large settlements. Huge spaces are usually uninhabited. Although the Northern Territory covers an area of ​​more than 1.34 million square meters. km, there are only about 200 thousand people - just over 1% of the total population of Australia. Some people live in mining villages, agricultural communities and Aboriginal villages, but the majority of the population lives either in Alice Springs or in Darwin - the main port of the Northern Territory and its capital. After devastating tropical cyclones, Darwin had to be rebuilt five times. But government assistance, a thriving mining and tourism industry have turned what is now Darwin into a thriving city of 109,000 people. The area of ​​South Australia, although smaller - 984 thousand square meters. km, but there are seven times more residents than the northern neighbor. Almost 95% of the population lives in a coastal strip 45 km wide, and the vast majority is concentrated in such big cities, as the capital of the state of Adelaide - the fifth most populous city in the country, surrounded by forests and an extensive network of roads. The gas and mining industries located in Adelaide and its environs, together with farming and the tourism industry, are the main source of income for the city treasury.

ANIMAL WORLD OF AUSTRALIA

Australia was once part of a single super-continent Pangea, but in the process of continental drift about 50 million years ago, the Australian block of the earth's crust broke away from the main land mass and began to gradually shift to its current position. Isolation from the rest of the world led to the fact that the evolution of the animals of Australia went on a different path, contributing to the emergence of many diverse different types. Among the inhabitants of Central Australia there are many of these unique animals that have adapted to the difficult conditions of the desert - the long powerful legs of the kangaroo help them overcome long distances in search of meager food, the wombat can do without water for months. The second largest bird in the world, the emu, also lives here. In the 19th century camels were brought to the mainland, used as pack animals when traveling through the Australian deserts. Now there are about 60 thousand wild camels in Australia, living mainly in the state of the Northern Territory. There are no large predators in Australia, but there are poisonous insects and reptiles, including the tiger snake and taipan, which have the most deadly poison in the world.

ABORIGENIC CULTURE

Aboriginal people can be found in any corner of Australia, but most of them live in the state of the Northern Territory. During the time that has passed since the appearance of the first people on the continent, many different tribal groups with their own peculiar languages ​​and cultures have formed on the territory of Australia. There are more than 200 languages ​​and dialects spoken by the Australian Aborigines. All of them led a nomadic and semi-nomadic way of life in complete harmony with the nature around them, being engaged in gathering, hunting and fishing. Aboriginal culture, specific and diverse, is reflected in their fine arts, folklore, music and dance. Their rock paintings and oral legends concern mainly the origin of the surrounding world and the people living in it. At the heart of the culture of the natives is the idea of ​​the "time of dreams", when the Earth and all living beings were created. The first ancestors were presented to them in the form of beings sleeping in the primeval world; awakened, they created people and nature. According to the beliefs of the indigenous inhabitants of Australia, the creators of nature dressed each tribe with their own land, which, being considered sacred, can neither be donated nor sold.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Western Australia - the largest state of the country - is rich in mineral resources. The climate and soils in the southwest favor the development of agriculture.

Western Australia - huge arid region, washed in the west and south by the waters of the Indian Ocean, and in the north by the Timor Sea. The area of ​​the state is about 2.5 million square meters. km and most of its territory is a medium-high plateau with sparse vegetation. More than half of the interior of Western Australia is occupied by deserts: the Great Sandy, Gibson and Great Victoria Deserts. And although in all three deserts there are areas of wooded savannahs, swamps and salt lakes, the climate here is desert with an average annual rainfall of less than 200 mm and temperatures above 30 ° C.

The mountainous regions of the state are isolated from each other: in the northeast, the peaks of the Hamersley Range rise, and in the north, the flat peaks of the Kimberley Plateau, rich in various minerals, rise. In the very north of the state is the largest body of water in the region - Lake Argyle. In the southeast of the state lies the Nullarbor Plain, a low, limestone plateau. Its perfectly flat surface made it possible to lay here an absolutely straight section of the Trans-Australian railway.

CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE

Although in general Western Australia is an arid region, there are climatic differences over such a vast expanse. In the extreme north the climate is tropical with periodic cyclones, and in the extreme south it is Mediterranean. In both these areas, the average annual rainfall reaches 1600 mm. As we move deeper into the mainland, the amount of precipitation decreases, the average daily temperature exceeds 30 ° C in summer, and often drops below zero in winter. The only place where snow falls is a low mountain range north of Albany. Fertile lands lie in the south-west of the region, where the production of the main agricultural crops is concentrated. On an area of ​​about 28 thousand square meters. km, oats, vegetables, oilseeds, fruits, and wheat are grown, for which the state ranks first in the country. Livestock breeding is also an important branch of the region's economy. State government-controlled logging and coastal fishing also contribute to the state's economy.

HUGE DEPOSITS AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT

Australia is exceptionally rich in mineral resources, and its mining industry is one of the most advanced in the world. Large mineral deposits located in various parts of the country contribute to the development of the mining industry in all regions of Australia. For example, almost 70% of the country's copper production comes from the huge mines of Queensland, while the main uranium production comes from the mines of the Northern Territory and South Australia. Western Australia is the leader in gross mining and in the extraction of metal ores, which account for 38 and 67% of the country's total production, respectively. The richest reserves of bauxite and nickel are concentrated in the state. Western Australia also accounts for about 97% of iron ore and 67% of gold mined in the country. Opening in the 1970s diamond deposits in the northeast of Western Australia allowed Australia to enter the top five world leaders in the production of this valuable mineral. The gold deposits located in Western Australia provide about 75% of the precious metal mined in the country. In the second half of the XX century. on the continental shelf of Western Australia, the richest deposits of oil were discovered.

STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY

Since the 1960s Western Australia's economy is growing at the fastest pace in the country. The basis for its growth was intensive farming and mining, bringing about 25% of income to the state treasury. Tourism, which has been booming in recent years, is also making a significant contribution to the prosperity of the state. Rapidly growing industrial enterprises, concentrated in the vicinity of Perth, are engaged in the processing of raw materials mined in the region. Perth, which has become a major business and financial center, is located much closer to Singapore than Sydney, and there is reason to believe that the city will strengthen its trade ties with Asian countries.

POPULATION AND CITIES

In Western Australia, the population density does not exceed 1 person per 1 sq. km. km. Despite the leading role of agriculture in the economy of the region, no more than 15% of the population lives in rural areas. The first permanent settlement on southwest coast arose in the 1820s. The settlers gradually developed nearby lands and built farms. In the 1850s parties of convicts began to arrive here. The discovery of gold deposits caused a "gold rush" and a powerful wave of immigration, dramatically increasing the population of the region. In 1899, the wealth gained from gold prompted ambitious citizens to finance the construction of an artificial bay near the city of Fremantle. Now Fremantle is swallowed up by the growing Perth. The city limits are home to 1,340,000 of the 1,920,000 inhabitants of the state. Ancient buildings, carefully preserved and restored, beautiful views make Perth attractive for tourists. In contrast to the state capital - the country's fourth city in terms of population - none of settlements Western Australia is not home to more than 35 thousand people. Despite the small population, the centers of mining in the interior of the state, Kalgoorlie and Boulder, are of great economic importance.

"Great Illustrated Reference. Countries and Continents”, Moscow, Makhaon, 2005,

Australia is a country-continent. This is one of the most amazing states in the world, because it has a unique nature, relief, flora and fauna. Australia is a country "with character": the climate here is very difficult, summer here comes in the midst of winter, and winter - during the summer.

Australia is full of contrasts. This is an island surrounded on all sides by the ocean, but most of which is desert. Aboriginal culture and the culture of the modern world coexist here. Industrial cities are surrounded by wild nature. It is impossible to get tired of this continent, Australia constantly strikes the imagination of tourists. And the tourists themselves want to return to this amazing country to once again enjoy its chic and simplicity.

Capital	Canberra
Population	23,002,866 inhabitants
	7,692 thousand km²
Population density	2.8 people per km²
	English
Religion	Multi-religious country, no official religion
Form of government	A constitutional monarchy
	Australian dollar (AUD)
Timezone	Three time zones: Western Time (UTC+8), Central Time (UTC+9:30) and Eastern Time (UTC+10)
International dialing code
Domain zone
Electricity	220 V, 50 Hz, three-pin sockets

Climate and weather

The climate in Australia is due to its proximity to the equator. Winter (December to February) is the hottest time here. The air temperature can reach +36 °С, and sometimes +40 °С in the center of Australia and +30 °С on the West coast. Summer, on the contrary, is very cool, up to +20 °С in Central Australia and up to +10 °С in the west.

The most inhabited part of Australia is the southeast coast. This part is also the most loyal in terms of climate: winters are not so hot here (+25...+27 °С), and summers are mild and rainy with temperatures up to +12...+14 °С.

The climate of Tasmania is the mildest in the whole country: in summer the temperature reaches +10 °С, and in winter - +17...19 °С.

The driest climate is observed in the central part of Australia. The minimum amount of precipitation per year falls here, which is why the desert has spread here. On the island of Tasmania, the maximum amount of rainfall in the country falls in winter. This is the rainiest place in Australia.

Nature

Australia is a country with a rich and unique nature. There are almost no rivers in Australia, and lakes - a large number of. The most significant river here is Murray. The largest lake Air which is salty. However, Australia attracts tourists not with rivers and lakes, but with its sea beaches with white soft sand, comfortably located in the northeast and east of the mainland. It also attracts Great Barrier Reef- the largest coral reef in the world. Diving and surfing enthusiasts come back here again and again to once again plunge into this stunning beauty and enjoy the unimaginable underwater world.

Some tourists are attracted by the deserts and semi-deserts that occupy most of Australia. They also have something mysterious and unique, especially oases.

Australia has a valid mawson volcano(this is the highest point in the country).

The flora and fauna of this country are unique and inimitable. Many of Australia's plants are evergreen, though some of them have been able to adapt to dry weather and fires. However, it is the local animal world. After all, such animals as here, you will not find anywhere else (except in zoos). Platypuses and echidnas, kangaroos and koalas, emus and cockatoos - they all amaze with their dissimilarity to animals familiar to us. It's worth a trip to Australia just for them. Please note that there are a lot of poisonous snakes in Australia.

In the north of Australia, there is the Kakadu National Park, where you can get acquainted with the richest flora and fauna of this beautiful country. In addition, it contains Aboriginal rock paintings that are over 25,000 years old.

Attractions

In Australia, man-made attractions cannot be separated from those created by nature.

The highlights of Australia include the unusual flora and fauna of the country-continent, a mountain of red soil Ayers Rock , oases in the middle of the desert, Great Barrier Reef, which is included in the UN World Heritage List.

Sydney- This beautiful city peace. It combines the industrial modern world with its skyscrapers and the old buildings of King's Cross and the Rocks, parks and boulevards and Asian neighborhoods. In Sydney, it is worth visiting the well-known Sydney Museum of Australian History and Anthropology, Museum of Modern Art, Nicholson Museum of Antiquities, National Maritime Museum, Wild Animal Park Australia and Hyde Park. Particularly noteworthy is the embankment in the Woolumulu area and the opal factory, where you can buy jewelry made from opals, pearls or diamonds. Sydney is worth a visit if only to feel the spirit of Australia, to feel its contrasting and contradictory nature, alluring with its originality.

Melbourne is Australia's largest city. The small center of Melbourne has incorporated museums, galleries and fine shops. A huge part of the city is given to parks and squares, here is also Royal Botanical Garden. It is also worth visiting the National Gallery and Victoria Museum, St. Patrick's Cathedral, James Cook Memorial and Old City Mint, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road, beautiful national park Port Campbell and picturesque weathered shores in southwest Victoria.

City Darwin is a small modern city. Here you can walk through a large number of parks: Kakadu Park, Northern Territories Wild Animal Park, beautiful parks Lichfield And Katerina Gorge. It is this city that will help you plunge into the unique wildlife of Australia.

Nutrition

Traditional Australian cuisine does not exist, it is a continuation of British cuisine. However, all kinds of seafood prevail here. In addition, they eat kangaroo meat, crocodile meat, emu and even larvae and beetles here. But don't worry, there are many restaurants and cafes here offering almost all types of international cuisine. In addition, there are enough fast food restaurants in Australia.

Australian wines are very popular outside of Australia. But the most popular drink among Australians themselves is beer.

In Australia, you can enjoy the following food options:

BYO Restaurants, which means "bring with you". In this case, we mean alcoholic beverages. This is due to the fact that not all restaurants in Australia receive a license to sell alcohol. Please note that some restaurants of this type can only bring beer, others only wine. For drinking alcohol in such establishments, you must pay a fee. (from 2 to 15 $).

Asian eatery chains are very common in this country.

In many parks, you can cook your own barbecue.

In Australia, there are also so-called "salad bars"- self-service bars. Here you have to pay an entrance fee in the region of 6-8 Australian dollars. The assortment is represented by salads, appetizers, soups, vegetables and fruits.

Accommodation

In Australia, tourists are offered a wide variety of accommodation options, whether it be a hotel, inn, hostel, campsite or apartment.

Most budget option residence in the country is a hostel. Here you will be provided with a private room with a shared bathroom for 20-30 $ per night. The same price includes the ability to use the kitchen with a refrigerator and a supply of food.

Hotels are the more expensive option. It is worth noting that Australian hotels are divided into classes, but without stars. Here you will be provided with a high level of service with free internet, morning newspapers and meals.

Motels is the most common accommodation option in Australia. They are cheaper than hotels, but the quality of service here is simpler. The cost of living is approx. 50 $ per night. For this amount you will be offered a separate room with a personal shower and toilet.

Available for tourists and apartment rentals. But, as a rule, apartments are provided for a short period of time (maximum a couple of nights). In this case, you can use the kitchen, washing machine, dryer and other services.

In addition, you can settle on a farm. Here you will be provided with quality food and Australian flavor.

Entertainment and recreation

The sun and the beach are what come to mind when the word "Australia" is mentioned. Hundreds of tourists are attracted to this country precisely beach holiday. Australia has over 10,000 beaches. Each tourist can choose a vacation to their liking.

The most popular tourist beach in Australia is Bondi beach. There are many cafes, restaurants and hotels. The main beach of the Gold Coast Surfs Paradise. The most picturesque Australian beach, which "plays with colors" in the rays of the rising and setting sun, is Cable Beach. Lovers of a secluded relaxing holiday without a crowd of people will suit carramoine and beaches Bedarra Islands. For tourists with children, the beaches will be a great place to relax. Dunk Islands And Magnetic.

Everyone knows that Australia is very popular among fans water sports. Its beaches do not leave indifferent neither surfers, nor yachtsmen, nor fans of diving and water skiing. Here you can try spearfishing.

Australians are big fans of golf, tennis and badminton. Therefore, there are a lot of sites for practicing these sports.

Australia's premier cultural event is the Sydney Festival, celebrated in January. It includes a military parade, street performances, theatrical premieres.

In February in Sydney you can get to the festival of sexual minorities.

In Melbourne, at the end of January, you can visit the tennis tournament, and in February - the world championship of Formula 1 for the Australian Grand Prix.

Purchases

Shops in Australia are usually open from 09:00 to 17:00, weekends are Saturday and Sunday. However, some supermarkets allow themselves to work on weekends, but not for long.

In the event that you have made a purchase in an Australian store for more than 300 Australian dollars in one check, then you can receive a refund of the goods and services tax, which is 9.1%. To receive a tax refund, you must have the purchase in its original form, as well as a receipt.

Transport

In Australia, driving is on the left. This must be taken into account when driving a car in this country. Many say that the roads of Australia are very good.

The distance between the main cities of the country is significant (for example, from Sydney to Melbourne 900 km). In this regard, aircraft are the most common form of movement within the country. The cost of the flight is low. There are flights from Melbourne to Sydney and back every 15 minutes.

Rail transport is poorly developed in this country. This is due to the fact that the states are weakly cooperating among themselves on this issue, as well as because of the large distance between cities and the difficulty of laying the railway. In addition, not all states have it at all. The cost of traveling by train is not much lower than by plane, but the speed is much slower.

Traveling by bus is a more popular form of transportation. You can use a variety of types of tickets, including charter flights.

Ferry is another popular form of transport. The main ferry crossing is between Melbourne and Devonport. You can use the ferry every day. There is also a ferry service between Palm Beach, which is located on the central coast of New South Wales, and Sydney's North Beaches.

Connection

Wireless Internet is very common here, there are quite a few access points. IN major cities there are internet cafes. Most hotels offer their guests free internet access.

Pay phones are located throughout the country. With their help, you can make both long-distance and international calls. In addition, you can purchase a SIM card. Replenishment of the balance occurs through the purchase of a "voucher", which must be activated. When buying a SIM card, your balance will be zero.

Safety

Travelers should be aware that food, firearms, drugs, certain medications, materials of animal and plant origin are not allowed into Australia.

It is also forbidden to export from Australia animals and plants, bird feathers, corals, shells, bones, bamboo products without the necessary permission.

Here are the emergency numbers for you:

013 — emergency calls;
000 - police, fire service, ambulance. When dialing this number, you will be connected to the operator, who needs to be told a code word indicating the assistance you need: police (police), fire (fire) or ambulance (ambulance).

Here are some important laws, non-compliance with which will result in a fine or even cancellation of a visa and deportation:

• alcohol and cigarettes can only be purchased by persons over 18;
• smoking in public places is prohibited;
• you can not acquire, sell, store, use illegal drugs, including marijuana;
• in no case should you spit on the street, otherwise you will get a fine;
• It is forbidden to carry weapons, including knives.

Never drive after drinking alcohol. This is not only unsafe, but also punishable by a fine. At night, driving along the roads should also be careful, do not reckless. In Australia, night police patrols regularly go and monitor compliance with traffic rules. Fines for violating these rules can be A$100 or more.

Real estate

Property prices in Australia are relatively high. Real estate in large cities is the most expensive. For example, in Sydney or Melbourne, a house costs about 580 000 $ , and the apartment will cost 540 000 $ . In smaller cities, real estate prices are also lower. So, a house in Adelaide is sold at a price of $ 400,000, and an apartment can be purchased for 325 000 $.

The process of buying property in Australia by foreign citizens is not easy. To purchase real estate in this country, you must obtain permission from the Government Council for Foreign Investment. In addition, a mandatory condition for the implementation of a real estate transaction is the participation of a lawyer in it.

Payment for the acquired property should be made only in a non-cash manner.

In addition, it must be taken into account that in the event of the expiration of the visa to leave Australia, the property must be sold. If you want to avoid this trouble, real estate can be issued to a legal entity registered in Australia.

Business climate

Australian law allows anyone who wants to do business. This contributes to the "survival" of the strongest in the business environment - most companies cease to exist in the first year of operation and lose a lot of money. Organizational and legal forms here are different: from private small businesses to large foreign companies.

Every company in the country, small or large, is required to keep accounting records, be a good taxpayer and insure all its employees.
If you need additional funds to start your own business, you can easily get a long-term loan from a bank at a low interest rate, but only if you have a good credit history.
The financial year in Australia ends on June 30th. At the end of this period, before October 30, taxpayers are required to fill out a tax return and pay the state. Residents of the country are required to pay taxes on all income received (including income outside the country). Non-residents, on the other hand, pay taxes only on income received in Australia. The income tax rate here is rather big - 30 %. The VAT rate is relatively low - 10 %.

The most developing industries in Australia are programming, mining and chemical industries, construction, and medicine. It is they who are given most of the ongoing exhibitions and conferences in Australia. Their main goal is to increase the level of development of industries, agriculture both in Australia and abroad, exchange experience and knowledge, as well as protect the unique ecosystem of Australia and Oceania. Most exhibitions are held in cities such as Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane.

Here are some tips to help you enjoy your holiday in this impressive country.

Goods worth A$900 can be imported into Australia duty-free. For goods exceeding this amount, you will have to pay customs duty. You can import duty-free no more than 250 cigarettes (250 grams of other tobacco products) and 1125 ml of alcohol.

Banks in Australia are open only on weekdays from 09:00 to 16:00 or until 17:00. Currency exchange offices work not only on weekdays, but also on weekends. ATMs operate around the clock.

If you decide to travel inland, stock up on fuel, water, food, matches, and spare parts for your vehicle. You will not find telephones in the depths of the country, mobile connection it does not catch there, so it will not be superfluous to take a satellite phone with you, as well as tell your friends or the local police where exactly you are going and for how long.

If you decide to rent a car, you will need to have an international driver's license, a deposit amount, as well as a driving experience of more than a year and an age over 21, but not more than 75.

Be careful in the wild: Australia has a lot of wild poisonous snakes and insects. Before traveling to this country, read the rules for dealing with bites of poisonous animals.

Also remember about the rules of behavior on the water and the presence of sharks. Safe swimming areas are marked with green or red-yellow flags, and red or yellow flags warn of a dangerous swimming area.

Visa information

To visit Australia, citizens of the CIS countries and the Russian Federation need to obtain a visa, which can be a visitor or transit visa. A visitor visa is granted to persons whose purpose of visit is to visit their relatives or friends (up to 12 months), tourism, and study (no more than three months). Moreover, the person who decides to issue this visa must make sure that the applicant intends to visit Australia only for tourism purposes. Otherwise, the visa will be denied.

A transit visa is issued to those persons whose purpose of visit is direct transit through Australian territory to any third country. In this case, the period of stay in Australia should not exceed three days.

Since ancient times, people have sought to Australia in search of gold and for the sake of fat pastures, where they raised a huge number of livestock. Modern research has shown that the continent has a huge amount of reserves of various types of minerals.

Australia now ranks first in the world in iron ore, bauxite, lead and zinc mining, second in uranium mining (after Canada), and sixth in coal mining.

Features of the relief of Australia

In ancient times, Australia was an integral part of Gondwana - one of the two largest continents. Australia broke away around the end of the Mesozoic era, and now most of the mainland rests on an ancient platform. Therefore, the relief of Australia is dominated by plains, where the richest deposits of sedimentary rocks are located. About 95% of the country's territory does not rise above 600 m above sea level.

A narrow strip of plateau stretches along the western coast. These are the Western Australian Plateau (average heights - 200 m) and the McDonnell Range (with the highest peak Zil city - 1511m). There are deposits of oil, gas, iron ores, bauxite, titanium, gold.

The center of the mainland is dominated by lowlands. The Eyre Lakes region has the most low point Australia - minus 16 m from sea level. Copper, manganese, and opals are mined in this area.

In the east of the mainland is the Great Dividing Range - these are high mountains with steep slopes, mostly of volcanic origin, composed of limestone, granite and volcanic rocks. This mountain system stores considerable reserves of hard and brown coal, rich deposits of oil and gas, tin, gold, and copper. Here is the highest peak of the continent - Mount Kosciuszko (2228 m). On the slopes of the Great Dividing Range originate the largest Australian rivers - Murray and Darling.

Types of minerals

Iron ore- a mineral formation containing a large amount of iron. In terms of iron ore mining, Australia, together with Brazil and China, provides 2/3 of the world's production. The largest deposits were discovered in the northwest of the mainland - these are the Mount Newman and Mount Goldsworth basins. Ore is also mined in South Australia (the largest deposit is Iron Knob). The Australian company BHP Billiton is one of the three largest concerns in the world for the production of iron ore raw materials. Only this concern gives the world about 188 million tons of ore. Australia is also the world's largest exporter of ore. More than 30% of world exports per year are accounted for by this country.

bauxites- a complex rock from which aluminum is mined. In terms of bauxite deposits, Australia ranks second in the world, second only to Guinea. On southern continent According to experts, more than 7 billion tons of the most valuable ore are stored, which is almost 26% of the world's reserves. In Australia, bauxites are found in mountainous areas. The largest deposits: Weipa (Cape York), Gove (Arnhem Land), Jarradale (on the slopes of the Darling Range).

Polymetals- a complex ore containing a whole range of chemical elements, of which zinc, lead, copper, silver and gold are considered the most important. Large deposits of polymetallic ores have been discovered in New South Wales (the Brocken Hill deposit), Queensland (the Mount Aise deposit) and northern Australia (the Tennant Creek deposit).

Gold- a valuable metal that has found application not only in jewelry, but also in electronics, the nuclear industry, and medicine. Australia is the 4th largest gold miner in the world. More than 225 tons are mined here annually. The main gold deposits are concentrated in the southwest of the mainland - in the state of Western Australia. The largest mines are located near the cities of Kalgoorlie, Wilun and in Queensland.

Coal- the most important type of fuel of organic origin. According to experts, almost 9% of the world's coal reserves are concentrated in Australia - more than 76.4 billion tons. The main coal basins are located in the east of Australia. The largest deposits are in the states of New South Wales and Queensland.

Oil and natural gas- valuable fuel resources, of which there are not so many in Australia (compared to other countries, and even more so, continents). The main deposits of oil and gas are found on the shelf near the coast. The largest oil fields are Mooney, Alton, Bennet (Queensland), Kingfish (Victoria) and Barrow Island. The largest gas field is Ranken.

Chromium- metal used in heavy industry. Rich deposits of chromium have been discovered in Australia. Large deposits: Gingin, Dongarra (Western Australia), Marlin (Victoria).

By production diamonds and opals Australia ranks first in the world. The largest diamond deposit is located in the area of ​​Lake Argyle. And most of the opals (2/3) are found in South Australia. There is also an unusual underground city Coober Pedy, often referred to as the opal capital of the world. Most of the dwellings in the city are located in underground mines.

Resources and deposits

Mineral resources. Australia is one of the five largest suppliers of minerals in the world. The mining industry provides a third of the country's total industrial output. Australia's minerals are exported to more than 100 countries around the world.

Water and forest resources Australia are small. In terms of water supply, this is the poorest continent on earth. There are few rivers, and 90% of the rivers dry up during the dry season. Only the Murray and its tributary the Murrumbidgee maintain a constant current throughout the year. The main forest areas are located in the east and west of the continent. Eucalyptus thickets are especially valued.

Land resources Australia is vast, but almost 44% of the mainland is occupied by deserts. However, semi-deserts and steppes are used for extensive pastures. Sheep breeding is very developed, which is often called the "business card" of the Australian economy. The country occupies a leading position in the world in the production of meat and butter.

Fertile soils are located in the steppe regions. They grow mainly wheat. They also harvest rich crops of sugar cane, tobacco, and cotton. In recent years, winemaking and viticulture have been gaining more and more development.

The vast territory gives Australia a great endowment with natural resources. Despite the small population, the country actively and rationally uses the available resources and actively develops the direction of alternative energy sources.

Due to the large length in the country there are several climatic zones which is reflected in the unique and diverse flora and fauna.

Water resources

Throughout Australia there are a small number of rivers. During the period of snowmelt, the rivers are quite full-flowing, but during the rest of the time even major rivers, like Darling, get very shallow. Dams and reservoirs are built to irrigate fields and pastures. The only exception is Tasmania, the rivers flowing through this lake are regularly fed by snow and rain. Due to this, there are a large number of hydroelectric power stations in Tasmania. The lakes of Australia are waterless pits for most of the year, filled with water only in summer. In the nearby seas, fishing and the cultivation of pearl mollusks are well developed.

Land resources

The total land area occupies more than 774 thousand hectares, of which more than half are suitable for agricultural needs and construction. However, constant drought does not allow the use of all available territory. Irrigation systems are available on the territory of 2550 hectares, so now the sown areas occupy only 6% of the entire territory. Australia grows many crops, vegetables, fruits and cotton.

forest resources

Australia's forests are small, accounting for only 2% of the country's total area. However, Australian subtropical forests are the largest in terms of area in the world. You can also find humid tropical, subantarctic and savannah forests. Due to the arid climate, the flora of Australia is represented mainly by dry-loving plants. The central part of the mainland is predominantly covered with scrub. Economic activity has greatly modified many plant species.

Mineral resources

Australia is rich in mineral resources, ranking #1 in the world for zirconium and bauxite deposits and #2 for uranium deposits. Coal mining is also very well developed. Both large and small gold deposits are scattered throughout Australia. Platinum, silver, nickel, opal, antimony, bismuth, as well as diamonds are mined in significant volumes. The country also has reserves of oil and natural gas. Australia fully provides for its industry and, apart from oil, does not need to purchase mineral resources.

Alternative energy sources

Australia is on the way active development alternative energy sources. Climatic conditions allow highly efficient use of solar and wind energy. The country has every chance in a short time to completely switch to the use of only alternative energy sources.

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Hello! My name is Natasha, and for 5 years now I have been living in a country where everyone walks on their heads, or rather in Australia, in the city of Sydney. Here I work as a marketer, I run my blog in Instagram and a section on the radio, and I also organize picnics for the same Russian immigrants as my husband and I. Life on the Green Continent is full interesting discoveries, and even now I never cease to be amazed at some of them.

Especially for readers website I will tell the whole truth about the peculiarities of this distant and beautiful country.

The question I get asked most often is how do I move to Australia? We moved here thanks to my husband, who got a work permit. We decided to try to live in this country, and then we stayed and never regretted our decision. As in any other country, living in Australia has a lot of pros and cons. If you are interested in moving, I advise you to look at the website of the Department of Immigration, as the rules change all the time. And also check if your profession is on the list of popular specialties for migrants.

Well, to make it easier for you to make a decision, I propose to start by learning more about the life of Australians.

1. There is no eternal summer in Australia

I used to think that in Australia it is always warm, sunny and you can swim in the warm ocean all year round. This is indeed a very sunny continent (about 250 sunny days a year), but the weather can be different and even unpredictable. In Sydney, the ocean rarely warms up to a comfortable temperature even in summer, and the Australians themselves prefer to go for a beach holiday in Bali, Fiji or Thailand.

The country is large, several climatic zones pass through it at once: from the tropics in the north to a cooler climate with rainy winters in the south. If you wish, you can even go skiing in Australia: there are several ski resorts where real snow falls (although the prices bite there!).

And Australia is often called the Green Continent, but this is not entirely true: most of the mainland is desert, and tropical forests are located only along one coast.

2. In winter, it can be warmer outside than at home.

Here is such a paradox: despite the fact that the winters here are not severe, the lack of central heating and the “cardboard walls” make me feel colder than in Russia. Therefore, sheepskin slippers were my first purchase.

Usually in winter it is even warmer outside than at home: once in my friend's apartment the thermometer rose to a maximum of +9, while the temperature outside was about +13. This is how I spent about three summer months. Australians are saving themselves as best they can: they use heaters and simply dress warmer. Uggs, in which the whole world walks the streets, are put on at home here.

3. Australians love the ocean and nature

A typical road in a residential area: along with cars, many families park boats, sometimes two at once. There are over a hundred beaches in Sydney (just imagine, every weekend you can choose a new one!), and people try to spend their free time usefully. Many are fond of surfing, ride on small boards, and someone just swims or rests in the shade.

4. Relaxation, slowness and intolerable accent

No wonder there are so many legends about the Australian accent: it really puts the untrained ear into a stupor! Locals speak quickly, swallow sounds, and even use a lot of abbreviations: arvo = afternoon, brekky = breakfast, etc. Add Indians and Asians here with their accents: at first, out of habit, the head is spinning from this language mixture.

Here are some interesting observations about the mentality of the locals:

• Australians at work do not give all the best, but believe that it is better to do 80% and go surfing. And it doesn't matter that you expect 100% results from them. At work, sometimes it turns out to be even convenient: firstly, something can be done faster and handed over, and then slowly finished. And secondly, in the end, the alterations may be different than you originally expected. Users will test, perhaps they will find errors that can be fixed along with improvements. “I work for life, but I don’t live for work” is their motto.
• Nobody is stressed. And why, when there is a cup of coffee in one hand, and the endless ocean stretches before your eyes? You can go outside in pajamas, sweatpants, but at least barefoot! Nobody cares. It may seem that people here are a little infantile, and usually they are until they are 30-35 years old: at this age, Australians create families and give birth to children (usually 2-3, no less).
• It's strange, but despite his relaxed approach to life, Australians love to plan ahead. Air tickets are bought 8-9 months before the trip, vacations are planned a year in advance, meetings with friends - a month in advance.
• Australians will not climb into the soul, and indeed when communicating, they will behave politely and keep their distance, avoiding topics that may be unpleasant. Of course, there is racism in Australian society, but in general, immigrants like us are treated well here.

Curious fact: Statistically, 50% of Australians never iron anything. No one will look at you sideways if you come to work in wrinkled trousers and a shirt: if you are so comfortable, then why not?

Moreover, I want to go to the store in pajamas for bread - please! Wanted to walk down the street barefoot and walk to the nearest store? In my area every second walks like this: once at the checkout in a supermarket, I met a guy who was dressed in just a towel. How do you like that?

By the way, Australians have another habit - they like to drive barefoot. I used to disdain and wrinkle my nose when my friends told me how they like to drive a car barefoot, but a couple of years ago I started on my own and got involved - and it’s really very convenient.

6. Australia is a flip country

The seasons here are “turned” on their head: when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, winter reigns in Australia. It turns out that June, July and August are the winter months. Accordingly, the New Year and Christmas fall at the very height of summer, and at first it was difficult to get used to this. The traditional Australian celebration of these two holidays is a barbecue on the beach. And we carry a Christmas tree with us, a bowl of Olivier and sculpt "snowmen" from the sand.

On average, each Australian spends $400-550 on gifts, because it is customary to buy gifts for all their relatives and even their children, and Australians have large families. So one day my colleague had to stock up on almost 40 gifts.

Also exists holiday Christmas in July - the so-called July Christmas. It is celebrated arbitrarily in July, that is, in the middle of winter, when it gets cold outside: it is customary to sit by the fireplace with New Year's attributes and give gifts to loved ones.

By the way, the school year in Australia is also “upside down»: starts at the end of January and ends before Christmas, in mid-December. The financial year also differs from the usual calendar year and begins on July 1.

7. In Australia, everything is trying to kill you - is it true?

If everything was so bad, it is unlikely that Australians would be among the ten happiest nations in the world. There are sharks, poisonous snakes, cockroaches the size of a matchbox and spiders the size of a palm, but people have somehow adapted to live peacefully with the surrounding flora and fauna. Each animal has its own habitat. Elementary rules help reduce fears and protect yourself: it is worth shaking out your shoes before putting them on (suddenly someone crawled into shoes), while outdoors, carefully monitor your belongings and swim carefully in the ocean. Being careful never hurt anyone!

Once a big spider got into our house, which we heroically caught. After discussing the situation with friends, I found out that many Australian houses even have a special glass for catching spiders: they are not killed, but caught and taken to the street.

I am also often asked: is it true that in Australia sharks eat people off the coast? This can really happen here, but according to statistics, far more people in Australia die from falling out of their own beds than from shark bites.

Once I myself was close to a shark, but, to be honest, I didn’t even see a fin. We were on one of the southern beaches of Sydney: we swam, rode boards in coastal waves. Suddenly, the siren turned on, the rescuers fussed and began to drive everyone out of the water: 2-3 sharks sailed from the ocean, which were larger than boats in size.

I asked the female lifeguard if they often see sharks. It turned out that she sees them almost every day, but these are all species that are not dangerous to humans. Big sharks rarely swim from the ocean (they were seen only 3 times during the season on this beach): when this happens, the beach is closed.

8. There are more kangaroos than the population.

Australia's National Treasure is subject to a mandatory census: as of 2011, there were 34 million kangaroos in Australia. Compare with the population in 2011: 23 million people, which means There are actually more kangaroos in Australia than people. Here are some interesting statistics.

Of course, you won’t meet kangaroos on the streets of Sydney, but it is worth moving a little further inland, to national parks, as the probability of meeting these animals increases dramatically. True, they are a little stupid: they regularly run out onto the road and throw themselves under the wheels of cars.

Nature. As a person who grew up in the stone jungle, I am endlessly pleased with Australian nature and amazing wildlife - for this you don’t even need to leave the city. Eg, National parks and natural reserves located in the Sydney metropolis, covering an area of ​​​​188 hectares, and most often these are pieces of untouched wilderness. And all this - in the city! And, of course, the ocean is a separate love.

Weather. Anyway, the weather in Australia is great. So, in Sydney, the temperature never drops below zero, it never snows, on a good winter day you can even walk in a jacket, and my complaints about Sydney winters are more likely from being spoiled.

Comfort. Australian cities are the best suited for a comfortable and relaxing life. Ramps and elevators are thought out here for those who are forced to move in a wheelchair, special places are equipped - this, it seems to me, is an important indicator. Driving on the roads here is a real pleasure, and most of the signs are a picture and an explanation: if you don’t remember the sign, then at least read it. Road markings help you turn into the correct lane. And on the Great Ocean Road (a place where there are 5 tourists per 1 local) there are signs "In Australia they drive on the left side of the road."

People. I like Australians: kind, open and cheerful, always ready to help and will not pass by a person in trouble. They do not worry about the little things, which means there is much less stress and pressure. People know how to enjoy life, spend a lot of time with friends and family, and I really like all this.

Would you like to go to Australia or have you already been to this country? Share your opinion with us in the comments.