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The Size and Shape of Australia
In comparison to many countries, Australia has a large land mass. In fact it is the largest island in the world, with 6 states (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania) and 2 territory’s (Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory). It is also classified as a continent and a country. To travel from the most eastern point of Australia (Cape Byron, NSW) to the most western point of Australia (Steep Point, WA) it would be 4100 km to travel. To travel from the most northern point of Australia (Cape York, QLD) to the most southern point of Australian Mainland (Wilson's Promontory, VIC) it would take 3180 km. Overall our country covers an area of 7 682 300 square kilometres.
Some of the worlds most populated countries are much smaller than Australia. For example, India has a population of approximately 1.2 billion (1, 200 million) people and is approximately 3.3 million square kilometres, while Australia has a population of only 23.5 million people and covers an area of 7.7 million square kilometres. This means that India isn’t even half the size of Australia and has a population that is 51 times larger. Australia may have a large land mass, though it does not have a large population, but has a sparse population. Australia is nearly as big as The United states, is about half the size of Russia and is about 50% larger than the European continent.
Location
Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, South of Indonesia and of Papua New Guinea, and is North Eastern from New Zealand. It is located on the South Western rim of the Pacific Ocean and is on the Eastern rim of the Indian Ocean. The geographical location of Australia is 35.3080° S, 149.1245° E, though this is not totally precise. The most eastern point of Australia (Cape Byron, NSW) has coordinates of 28.6328° S, 153.6389° E. The most western point of Australia (Steep Point, WA) has coordinates of 26.1514° S, 113.1550° E. The most Northern point of Australia (Cape York, QLD) has coordinates of 10.6833° S, 142.5333° E. The most southern point of Australian mainland (Wilson’s promontory, VIC) has coordinates of 39.0986° S, 146.3866° E.
Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone
Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone, is one of the largest in the world. It has a total marine area of around 10 million square kilometres which is considerably larger than the 7.69 million square kilometres of the Australian mainland States and Territories. Australia has an Exclusive Economic Zone that is 200 nautical miles wide (370.4 km). This is measured from the lowest astronomical tide – the lowest level that sea level can be predicted to fall to, under normal meteorological conditions.The Australian Economic Zone covers protection and access restrictions to off land resources. These can include: fish, submarine mineral deposits, oils, fisheries and other sea life.
Origins of the continent:
Australia is the lowest, flattest and one of the driest continents. Most of Australia’s arable land is on the East Coast of Australia. Although our country does have quite a lot arable land, most of Australia has a very dry and arid land. Nearly all of Western Australia and the Northern Territory is desert, and these two states/territories put together is a huge 51% of Australia. There is also a lot more deserts in other states/territories, but these are the main ones with a lot of desert in them. New South Wales and Queensland is mainly desert too. In total, a huge 70% of Australia is desert, making Australia the driest continent on earth besides Antarctica. Although Australia is a relatively flat country, it does have many mountain ranges. For example there is Macdonnells and Musgrave. As well as individual mountains such as Uluru. Australia has a very unique and diverse physical environment, which is like no place else.
Useful Links:
http://www.juniorgeography.hsieteachers.com/origins-of-the-continent---aboriginal-perspective.html
https://hsiestage5resources2013.wikispaces.com/Origins+of+Australia+-+A+Geographical+Perspective
https://hsiestage5resources2013.wikispaces.com/AUSTRALIA%E2%80%99S+LOCATION,+SIZE+AND+SHAPE
http://www.about-australia.com/facts/australia-geography/
http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-16_u-307_t-751_c-2815/geographical-dimensions-size-and-shape/nsw/geographical-dimensions-size-and-shape/australia-s-physical-environment/the-australian-continent
In comparison to many countries, Australia has a large land mass. In fact it is the largest island in the world, with 6 states (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania) and 2 territory’s (Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory). It is also classified as a continent and a country. To travel from the most eastern point of Australia (Cape Byron, NSW) to the most western point of Australia (Steep Point, WA) it would be 4100 km to travel. To travel from the most northern point of Australia (Cape York, QLD) to the most southern point of Australian Mainland (Wilson's Promontory, VIC) it would take 3180 km. Overall our country covers an area of 7 682 300 square kilometres.
Some of the worlds most populated countries are much smaller than Australia. For example, India has a population of approximately 1.2 billion (1, 200 million) people and is approximately 3.3 million square kilometres, while Australia has a population of only 23.5 million people and covers an area of 7.7 million square kilometres. This means that India isn’t even half the size of Australia and has a population that is 51 times larger. Australia may have a large land mass, though it does not have a large population, but has a sparse population. Australia is nearly as big as The United states, is about half the size of Russia and is about 50% larger than the European continent.
Location
Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, South of Indonesia and of Papua New Guinea, and is North Eastern from New Zealand. It is located on the South Western rim of the Pacific Ocean and is on the Eastern rim of the Indian Ocean. The geographical location of Australia is 35.3080° S, 149.1245° E, though this is not totally precise. The most eastern point of Australia (Cape Byron, NSW) has coordinates of 28.6328° S, 153.6389° E. The most western point of Australia (Steep Point, WA) has coordinates of 26.1514° S, 113.1550° E. The most Northern point of Australia (Cape York, QLD) has coordinates of 10.6833° S, 142.5333° E. The most southern point of Australian mainland (Wilson’s promontory, VIC) has coordinates of 39.0986° S, 146.3866° E.
Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone
Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone, is one of the largest in the world. It has a total marine area of around 10 million square kilometres which is considerably larger than the 7.69 million square kilometres of the Australian mainland States and Territories. Australia has an Exclusive Economic Zone that is 200 nautical miles wide (370.4 km). This is measured from the lowest astronomical tide – the lowest level that sea level can be predicted to fall to, under normal meteorological conditions.The Australian Economic Zone covers protection and access restrictions to off land resources. These can include: fish, submarine mineral deposits, oils, fisheries and other sea life.
Origins of the continent:
- Geographical perspective
Australia is the lowest, flattest and one of the driest continents. Most of Australia’s arable land is on the East Coast of Australia. Although our country does have quite a lot arable land, most of Australia has a very dry and arid land. Nearly all of Western Australia and the Northern Territory is desert, and these two states/territories put together is a huge 51% of Australia. There is also a lot more deserts in other states/territories, but these are the main ones with a lot of desert in them. New South Wales and Queensland is mainly desert too. In total, a huge 70% of Australia is desert, making Australia the driest continent on earth besides Antarctica. Although Australia is a relatively flat country, it does have many mountain ranges. For example there is Macdonnells and Musgrave. As well as individual mountains such as Uluru. Australia has a very unique and diverse physical environment, which is like no place else.
- Aboriginal Perspective
Useful Links:
http://www.juniorgeography.hsieteachers.com/origins-of-the-continent---aboriginal-perspective.html
https://hsiestage5resources2013.wikispaces.com/Origins+of+Australia+-+A+Geographical+Perspective
https://hsiestage5resources2013.wikispaces.com/AUSTRALIA%E2%80%99S+LOCATION,+SIZE+AND+SHAPE
http://www.about-australia.com/facts/australia-geography/
http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-16_u-307_t-751_c-2815/geographical-dimensions-size-and-shape/nsw/geographical-dimensions-size-and-shape/australia-s-physical-environment/the-australian-continent