The capital of Australia, Canberra, is the administrative center of the country. In general, Australian laws may not be followed, the main thing is to communicate this in small print

- comes from lat. australis ("southern")

Briefly about the country

is a mainland state located in the Southern Hemisphere of the globe, it also includes the island of Tasmania
Sixth largest in area in the world. The political system is a parliamentary monarchy.
Australia consists of six states:
The states are Victoria (VIC), Western Australia (WA), Queensland (QLD), Tasmania (TAS), South Australia (SA), New South Wales (NSW).
Australia is one of the ten richest and most prosperous countries in the world, home to 20 million people, with 80% of the population living in cities. In Australia, the number of kangaroos is approximately 2 times greater than the population of people.

Australia on the world map

Official religions of Australia

- is a multi-religious country with no official religion.
Predominant religious movements: Catholicism ~ 25%, Anglicanism ~ 19%, other religions are noticeably smaller.

Australian public holidays

1st of January — New Year
January 26 — Australia Day(26 January 1788 Arthur Philip landed in Sydney Harbor and founded the first colony - New South Wales)
First Friday of February — Mardi Gras— (Gay and Lesbian Parade)
First ten days of February — Lunar New Year
Second week of February — Royal Regatta
The 14th of February — Valentine's Day
Second Tuesday in March — Commonwealth Day
Third Monday in March — Canberra Day
21 March — Harmony Day(against racial discrimination)
March-May — Catholic Easter
April 1 — April Fool's Day
25th of April — ANZAC Day(Defender of the Fatherland Day)
First Monday in April — holiday regions Western Australia
Second Monday of March — celebration of the regions of Victoria and Tasmania
First Monday in May — celebration of the Queensland and Northern Territory regions
First Monday in October — celebration of the Capital Territory, New South Wales and South Australia regions
Second Friday in May — Mothers Day
First Monday in June — Foundation Day(June 1, 1829)
June 3 — Mabo Day
Second Monday in June — Queen's Birthday
First Sunday in September — Father's Day. All Parents' Day. (The most popular gift on this day is a tie)
First Friday of November — Melbourne Cup(A horse race that almost every Australian bets on)
11th of November — Day of Remembrance
December 25 — Catholic Christmas
December 26—Boxing Day(Boxing Day - gifts are made exclusively in boxes to people who are poorer than you)

The capital of Australia

Australian currency

Australian Dollar (AUD): Divided into 100 cents, denoted A$.
Denomination: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 $.
Australian 100 dollar bill below, featuring Nellie Melda, Australian singer

Official language in Australia

- Australian English

Australia dialing code

Australia domain zone

Major cities in Australia

Climate and weather in Australia

Australia is the driest continent, but the climate on the mainland is very diverse. Australia has a lot of deserts; almost a third of its territory is covered by deserts.
Australia is located in four climate zones:
- subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate (Tasmania island). In simple terms, the climate on mainland Australia varies from hot to cold.
But basically, of course, the weather in Australia is hot; let’s consider the average annual air temperature using the example of the city of Sydney:

Visa to Australia

Plants. Flora of Australia

Acacia, Davisia, Soybean, Corimbia, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Leptospermum, Gudenia, Olearia, Triodia, Banksia, Grevillea, Syt, Caladenia, Pterostylis, Boronia, Correa, Citrus, Leukopogon, Epacris, Ricinocarpos

Animals. Fauna of Australia

Population of Australia

~ 23 million 100 thousand

Area of ​​Australia

~ 7 million 700 thousand sq. km.

Australia Hotels

Using Melbourne as an example

Cheap flights from Russia to Australia

Tours to Australia

Average life expectancy in Australia

80.7 years (female = 83.6 male = 77.8)

Photos of Australia

“Theme Australia” - I’ll catch it anyway. Lesson topic: “Natural areas of mainland Australia.” And the Little Koala sleeps sweetly on the branches. Coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Australia. The ostrich runs merrily, the shadow has become shorter. Color in natural areas on a contour map. Purpose of the lesson: Lesson topic: “Natural areas of Australia.” Homework. Create a crossword puzzle: “organic world of Australia.”

"Australia 7th grade" - Learning new material. Australia and Oceania. Lesson topic: Australia. Geographical location, history of the discovery of the continent. Relief and minerals. Geographical location, history of the discovery of the continent. Organizing time. Lesson progress: Lesson summary. Australia. General plan for studying the mainland: 1.Geographical location, history of the discovery of the mainland.

“Australia theme” - At first, the British government sent convicts there. There are no large deep rivers. Why is Australia the driest continent in the world? Length 2375 km. What minerals is Australia rich in? Australia was discovered by Europeans later than other continents due to its remoteness. Tell us how Australia was discovered and developed. What is the continent’s topography characterized by?

"Districts of Australia" - European settlers. Australia has a very low population density. Relocation to dry areas and population decline. Growth in numbers. Equal citizens of their country. Decorative creativity. Aboriginal Australians belong to the Negroid-Australoid race. The east of Australia is the main area of ​​residence.

"Project Australia" - Project goals. Creative name. Annotation. Project stages. Educational: fostering a respectful attitude towards the culture of the country of the language being studied. Fundamental Question: Is everything upside down upside down? Duration – 4 lessons. Problematic question What do we know about Australia? Educational: expand students' knowledge on the topic "Australia".

“Discovery of Australia” - In 1605, 3 ships under the command of Pedro Fernandez de Quiros set out from Callao in search of the Southern continent. The expedition discovered land, which was mistaken for the Southern Continent and called Australia Espirito Santo. In 1642, the ships Heemskerk and Zehain, under the overall command of Abel Tasman, left Batavia towards the Southland.

In 1901, the Australians decided to build a new capital of Australia - the city of Canberra. We spent almost ten years choosing the location.

As a result, they decided to build a new city on the route between Sydney and Melbourne in a picturesque area on the shores of an artificial lake. The name chosen for the new capital was Canberra, which translated from the Aboriginal language means “meeting place.”

Like any other capital, Canberra is home to parliament, the supreme court, ministries and banks.

History of the Australian capital

For some reason, many now consider Sydney to be the capital of Australia, and some even call Melbourne. And this is absolutely not true, although it could be so. These cities are the largest in Australia not only in terms of population, but also in terms of the location of the cultural centers of this southern continent. Both Sydney and Melbourne claimed the right to be the capital, but after the declaration of Australian independence in 1901, the Australians decided to build a completely new city for their capital.

A special international competition was announced for the best design of the future capital. It was won by the American architect and designer Walter Burley Griffin. By the way, Griffin received 1,750 pounds and three shillings for his project.

The government of the country officially appointed Walter Griffin as the general director of the planning and design of the capital, and under his leadership the new city was built. In general, Griffin's layout and design concept was retained, although the design was modified somewhat during construction. Griffin was very disappointed that his brilliant idea was not realized, and left Canberra in 1920, but the city continued to be built and developed. Already in 1927, the first meeting of parliament was held in Canberra. But it took many more years for the city to look like what Walter Burley Griffin wanted to build.

It took a long time to choose a name for the new capital. There were many options, such as: Kenguremu, Engirskot, Melandiperbane, Sidmeladperbrisho, but settled on the proposal of Lady Denman, the wife of the Governor-General of Australia, Lord Denman, to name the new capital Canberra, which in the Aboriginal language means “meeting place” or “meeting place” . Since then, Canberra Day has been celebrated every year on the second Monday of March.

This is what Kurrajong Hill looks like now, which is now called Capitol Hill, where on March 12, 1913, Lady Denman officially announced the name of the future capital of Australia.

Layout

The layout of Canberra is very smart and thoughtful. This is truly a business city providing its residents with excellent living conditions. The modern Canberra city center is divided by two perpendicular axes: the water axis, which runs along Lake Burley Griffin. And the land axis runs from southwest to northeast from the Houses of Parliament to Mount Ainslie, at the foot of which there is a war memorial. The city consists of two sectors - the northern, where the commercial part is located, and the southern - Capital Hill, where the Australian Parliament building is located on Kurrajong Hill. The government center and residential areas are connected by a network of expressways. Moreover, they are pre-designed to ensure their high throughput. Even if the number of residents increases several times, there will be no traffic jams here.

The central part of the city, known as the "Parliamentary Triangle", is formed by three wide streets: Commonwealth Avenue, Constitution Avenue and King's Avenue. The city uses a zonal structure, in which, in addition to the city center, seven districts are clearly distinguished, which in turn are divided into districts. Each district has its own community and commercial centers. The location of suburbs, nearby villages and industrial areas has been determined. None of them interferes with the other, and at the same time they have a clearly established system of interaction. Moreover, they are built up and populated not chaotically, but systematically with an even load of city communications, which are built before the construction of the area begins.

1. The North Canberra district consists of 15 districts built from 1920 to 1960.
2. The South Canberra district consists of 12 districts and was settled over a 40-year period from 1920 to 1960.
3. Woden Valley District, 13 districts, settled in 1963.
4. Belconnen District, 25 districts, first settled in 1967.
5. Weston Creek County, 8 wards, settled 1969.
6. Tukkeranong District, 19 districts, settled in 1974.
7. Kungahlin District, 7 districts began to be settled in 1990. Currently expanding.

The districts of North and South Canberra were built according to the plan of Walter Burley Griffin. In 1967, the Y-Plan, a plan for the future development of Canberra, was adopted by a special commission for the development of the capital. New housing estates are being built around a series of “town centers,” again connected by expressways. On the plan it looks like a Y, with Tukkeranong County at the base and Belconnen and Coongahlin counties at the branches.

Almost all districts have their own large shopping centers, which serve several neighboring districts, although the districts themselves have many shops, cafes and boutiques. Schools, children's and health care institutions, and public utilities are usually located near shopping centers. It is noteworthy that Australians cherish their history and therefore many areas of Canberra are named after former Prime Ministers of Australia, famous people of the country, or early settlers who settled in these areas. This is a kind of fountain-monument to Captain Cook.

Canberra's development and all urban planning and land use matters are controlled directly by the government. Everything is based on monetary calculations. So the land on which Canberra is located is leased from the state for a period of 99 years and the city authorities contribute the cost of the lease to the national government budget.

Canberra is a very green city. For less than four hundred thousand residents of the capital, there are more than 8 million trees. Green areas inside the city organically fit into the natural landscape of the area and give it a unique look

Attractions

The attractions of Canberra are: the national library, the national gallery of Australia, and a large number of museums. Australians have not forgotten about relaxation. There are many different cultural and entertainment centers, parks, sports complexes and wonderful recreation areas in the suburbs.

Each district has stadiums and sports complexes in which not only various sports events are held, but all residents of the city can play sports.

Jogging tracks are equipped along the reservoirs, and the reservoirs themselves are used by water sports enthusiasts, of whom there are many here.

So Canberra became an exemplary example of urban planning, a real city of the future.

The term "Australia" comes from the Latin. australis ("southern")

Australia on the world map is a federation of six states: South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland. In addition, it includes two more units - the Northern Territory and the Australian Federal Capital Territory. This country also owns several islands - including Cocos, Coral, Ashmore and Cartier, Christmas Island and MacDonald.

The many faces of Australia

Australia is one of the most developed countries in the world. It occupies an entire continent in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as nearby islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Several unique facts are associated with this country: it is the only one located on the entire continent and the largest island of Tasmania is located near it.

Neighboring Australia are New Zealand, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands. This country is so rich in nature and interesting cities that millions of tourists rush here all year round. The Great Bas-Relief Reef, resort islands, amazing beaches, bustling cities, sea cruises and mountain hikes. This is a real paradise for tourists all year round.

Capital

Officially, this state is called the Commonwealth of Australia. Its capital is Canberra. The city was created artificially so that two large and famous cities - Sydney and Melbourne - were located at the same distance from it. Both of them have long fought for the status of the main Australian city. When the question arises “the capital of Australia is Sydney or Canberra”, many immediately answer: Sydney. This is understandable, because it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and therefore widely known. This metropolis is a cultural and economic capital, everything is in full swing here, there are many attractions.

But Canberra performs only administrative functions. Less than 400 thousand people live here; for tourists, one day is enough to explore everything. The function of the city is not tourism: the offices of large companies and banks, as well as the House of Parliament, are located here. The capital of the Commonwealth of Australia was created artificially, everything here is thought out to the smallest detail - administrative buildings and residential areas are strictly ordered, Canberra is a world model of urban planning.

State structure

The state became independent only at the beginning of the last century; it is still part of the British Commonwealth, even the laws here are based on the English legal system. The system of power in Australia is a little confusing, it is divided between Parliament and the British monarch, but he is a nominal figure, he is appointed by the English government, and he delegates his powers to the Prime Minister. The capital of Australia, Canberra, is the city where they are located.

Climate of Australia

In a country located on an entire continent, the climate varies depending on the regions. It is tropical in the center, subequatorial in the north, subtropical in the south. In the northern regions, the average annual air temperature is 23-28 degrees Celsius, and there is quite a lot of precipitation. Winter is not very pleasant with dry and hot winds that lead to drought.

But the coast and the eastern part are famous for their mild, warm climate. In Sydney, the maximum air temperature in the warm season reaches a comfortable 25 degrees, and in the coldest month the thermometer drops to 15 degrees below zero. In the center and west of the continent there is a classic desert climate, characteristic of the tropics. In the calendar winter there is 30 degrees Celsius, in the center - up to 45, but in the summer - no more than 10-15, in the center - sometimes the temperature drops below zero. Summers here are hot and dry, winters are warm and humid. The local climate is similar to the Mediterranean, as in the south of France and Spain.

Tourist paradise

For tourists, Australia is a haven. Lots of routes, fascinating cities, beautiful rivers, waterfalls and mountains. Only here live kangaroos, koalas and platypuses. And in the forests grow giant eucalyptus trees, bamboo and ferns. The latter reaches 20 meters in height and is a unique sight.

You can relax on the ocean coast, climb the mountains, plunge into the bustling world of megacities - taste the joys of their entertainment venues, ancient monuments, theaters and temples, and enjoy shopping. Tourists are most attracted to the eastern coast of the mainland, where popular resorts and a marine park are located, as well as fabulous conditions for surfing enthusiasts. Created by nature and man. The service only complements the endless depths of the sea - with grottoes, caves, amazing fish and corals.

It is one of the most beautiful and visited cities in the world. Far beyond the country's borders, it is famous for its Opera House, Zoo and Royal Botanical Garden. Sydney is the largest and oldest city in Australia with a population of more than 4 million people. Its calling card is two skyscrapers: a television tower reaching a height of almost 260 meters, and the headquarters of an insurance company, 15 meters lower. At the top of the TV tower there is a revolving restaurant and an observation deck.

As in any metropolis, there are many museums, theaters, entertainment centers and restaurants. Tourists love to visit the local Taronga Zoo, one of the largest in the world. It is home to about 3 thousand animals - giraffes, Asian and African elephants, platypuses that live nowhere else. Performances with exotic birds and sea animals are regularly held here.

Sydney is surrounded on all sides by beaches, parks and mountains - modern service is combined with rich and generous nature. People come here from all over the world for a sea holiday - no other city has so many magnificent beaches. Almost 3 million tourists visit them every year. But three centuries ago there was only a small settlement of English convicts here. On the beach near the water you can admire corals, starfish and flowers, colorful fish scurrying along the shore. At the same time, tourists are warned that residents of other continents may not always have a safe allergic reaction to many of them. You need to touch these beauties very carefully.

What to see in Sydney

There are several places in the city center that are interesting for tourists to visit. One of them is Hyde Park, which contains several gardens, many alleys, unique plants and fountains. Not far from it is St. Mary's Cathedral, built two centuries ago in the neo-Gothic style, and therefore seems more ancient. It stands out against the backdrop of the super-modern city with its ancient architecture. The cathedral is built of golden sandstone and houses 40 stained glass windows with biblical themes. In one of the galleries there is a copy of the famous Pietà statue by Michelangelo, the original of which is in the Vatican.

The city's tourist route map also includes the Art Gallery, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Sydney Harbor, where you can take a great walk and take a photo for memory. From here you can go on a short cruise on a paddle steamer of the last century, try traditional Australian cuisine on board, and, if you wish, take part in a jazz concert. Sydney Harbor is a magnificent promenade with numerous restaurants.

To the west of it is the tourist area of ​​Darling Harbor, where attractions are on every corner. Here is one of the largest aquariums in the world. Tourists walk through glass underwater tunnels, where they can almost touch sharks, rays and turtles - in total, about 5 thousand waterfowl live here. If you wish, you can even book a deep-sea dive.

It combines two statuses - cultural and industrial. Being the capital of the state of Victoria, the city is striking in its mixture of two architectural styles - modern and Victorian. The local tram network is the largest in the world. Melbourne attracts visitors with constant festivals, carnivals, fashion shows and sporting events: horse racing and tennis tournaments.

The locals are very sociable, most of them are Italians and Greeks who settled here during the Gold Rush. Tours to this city are very popular. Tourists are attracted by beautiful parks, rich quarters for nobles, galleries with masterpieces by Rembrandt and Tiepolo, picturesque rivers and lakes. About 20 years ago, Melbourne received the title of “The Most Liveable City on Earth.”

Tours to Australia

They are quite versatile. In addition to the two major cities, you can visit Darwin, Hobart, Brisbane and Adelaide. Each of them is unique: Darwin has a saltwater crocodile farm, and Adelaide hosts Formula 1 racing. You can also go to Australia to experience nature. There are many nature reserves and forests where you can admire koalas and colorful parrots.

If you wish, you can climb the highest peak in Australia, Mount Kosciuszko, by choosing one of three routes, they differ in the level of difficulty. Rare plant species grow on the mountain and rare animals live. There are especially many tourists here in the cold season - the local ski slopes are suitable for any level of difficulty, and the service can satisfy the most experienced mountain climber.

Island resorts

The Great Barrier Reef is an entire underwater kingdom, home to thousands of species of corals, fish and other marine animals

Tourists are also interested in exploring the Great Bas-Relief Reef, the world's largest refuge for colorful corals. This is the main attraction of Australia, famous throughout the world for its resort islands, including Hyman, Hamilton and Bedarra. Here you can be alone with pristine nature and relax from all the hustle and bustle. Yachts, diving, fishing, walks in the parks - your vacation will be bright and unforgettable.

Only loving couples are allowed on Lizard Island; holidays with children are prohibited here. Several villas among tropical palm trees can accommodate no more than 16 couples at a time. You can't go to Orpheus Island with children either. Fitzroy Island, on the contrary, is intended for families and ecotourism lovers, as it is part of a national park. Heron Island attracts divers from all over the world, as the local underwater world is considered the most convenient and magnificent for diving.

Australian cuisine is one of the most diverse and colorful cuisines in the world. Based on Anglo-Irish traditions, it has absorbed a huge number of culinary techniques from Asian cuisine, especially Japanese, Chinese and Malay

The locals are very friendly, they do not respect authority and welcome guests very cordially. For the most part, they prefer ease in everything - clothing, communication style, and do not like long conversations about anything. The national cuisine is characterized by the same simplicity. In it you can find echoes of English, Italian, Chinese cuisine - all the peoples who settled here at different times.

The simplicity is expressed in the fact that fast food is popular here - meat pies, vegetarian sandwiches, kangaroo fillet and fried onions. Australians consider meat to be their main dish, which should be well cooked. Moreover, they do not like exotic kangaroo - it is mainly considered the food of the poor.

The cuisine is also rich in tropical exotic fruits and fish. It is prepared here in a special way: various herbs are placed on smoldering coals, then fish and then herbs again. On top are coals again. This method was inherited from the aborigines; the fish turns out amazingly tasty. They also know how to make cheese well here.

From Australia, tourists usually bring souvenirs made by the Aborigines - wooden figurines and clothes made from very fine wool obtained from local sheep. Popular “souvenirs” include jewelry; local pink diamonds and Australian opals are famous throughout the world. But the most important thing is the exciting travels around the country and the impressions about them – vivid and unforgettable.

Where is the capital of Australia located and what is its name? Sydney or Canberra - which of these cities performs capital functions? To give the correct answers to these questions, let's go on an absentee trip to a distant continent. It was discovered later than America, but before Antarctica. The debate about who was the first European to land on the shores of Australia continues to this day. There is also an ongoing discussion about which city in the country is the most beautiful and convenient for living.

Mainland Australia

A photo of a kangaroo and a koala is a kind of calling card of the Earth. Australia is almost 4.5 times smaller than Africa and only 2.5 times larger than the largest island on our planet - Greenland. On the continent there is a large state - the Commonwealth of Australia. Schoolchildren often find it difficult to answer the question of what is the name of the capital of Australia: Sydney or Canberra? Melbourne or Sydney? And it’s not just the remoteness of the mainland and the country. There are several reasons to think before naming a capital city. Knowledge of the history of the discovery and settlement of the continent by Europeans will help explain the situation.

Key milestones of the first stage in the history of the discovery and development of Australia

During the Great Period, the search for a sea route from European countries to India and China was actively pursued by the Spaniards, Portuguese, and after them the Dutch. Until the beginning of the 17th century, Europe did not know where Australia was. Fragmentary information about the voyages of Portuguese sailors and traders to the shores of an unknown southern land has been available since the 16th century, but little evidence has been collected.

It is known for certain that the navigator from Spain Torres in 1606 passed through the strait south of New Guinea, proving that it was an island and not part of an unknown southern continent. Torres saw, across the strait that now bears his name, the shore of some land (Australia). The Dutch made a great contribution to the exploration of the continent. For a long time it remained unknown how far to the east the territory of the southern continent extended.

To the Europeans, everything seemed unusual in the lands they discovered, located far to the south. First of all, those arriving from the Old World were surprised by the marsupials, the red color of the soil, and the drying up rivers. The most convenient places for settlers from Europe to live were the territories in the east, where moist winds from the ocean are blocked by mountains, and more precipitation falls than in the center of the continent.

D. Cook's voyage and the role of the British in settling the mainland

Known for his voyages around the world, the Englishman James Cook, knowing where Australia was located, set off in 1769-1770 to study the borders of the east coast. Walking along the coast from New Zealand, Cook reached the northern tip of the continent. From that time on, the development of these lands by subjects of the English crown began. On January 26, 1788, the first British colony was founded. Until the end of the 18th century, the internal territories remained poorly studied, which did not prevent the British from laying claim to the entire colonized continent. Nobody then took the opinion of the Aborigines of Tasmania and Australia into account.

There is still an ongoing debate about whether genocide of the indigenous population took place in the historical past of the mainland. There is no doubt about the answer to the question of what language is in Australia. The country is a member of the vast Commonwealth of Nations. Formally, the previous monarchs and the current Queen of Great Britain are the heads of the countries and dependent territories included in this association. In Australia, English is the official language.

Earth's smallest continent: geographical location (GP)

What hemisphere is Australia in? Let's take a look at the map. As you can see, the continent lies south of the equator, that is, it is completely located in the Southern Hemisphere. The main elements of Australia's latitudinal GP are:

• York Peninsula is the northernmost point of the mainland.
• The southernmost position on the continent is occupied by Cape South Point.
• The territory of Australia extends from parallel 10° S. w. to 39° south w.
• The continent is crossed almost in the middle by the Southern Tropic.

Which hemisphere is Australia in: Eastern or Western? The continent is not crossed by the 0° and 180° meridians, which means it is entirely located in the Eastern Hemisphere. The main elements of the Australian GP by longitude:

• The extreme point in the west is Cape Steep Point.
• The extreme eastern position is occupied by Cape Byron.
• Australia lies east of the 113°E meridian. d., west of 153° E. d.
• The total area of ​​the mainland is about 7.659 million km 2.

The continent stretches from west to east for about 4 thousand km. The distance from the north of the continent to its extreme point in the south is about 3.7 thousand km.

Coastline

Mainland Australia is washed by:

• Timor and in the north;
• Coral, Tasman seas in the east;
• bays and straits of the Indian Ocean in the west and south.

To the southeast of Australia is located in the northeast - about. New Guinea. The largest collection of corals on Earth, the Great Barrier Reef, runs along the east coast. The natural “structure” reaches a length of 2 thousand km. Coral reefs and atolls make it difficult to approach the coast of mainland Australia from the east (a photo of one of the small islands is presented below).

Commonwealth of Australia

Until the last decade of the 19th century, Australia included 6 separate colonies with their own authorities, armed forces and other attributes of independence. In 1898, the development of a constitution for the federation of the colonies began. Australians celebrated the first day of 1901 as citizens of a single state - the Commonwealth of Australia.

The rivalry between the cities of the country, which ranks sixth in the world in terms of territory, began more than 100 years ago. The question arose: where will the capital of Australia be located? Sydney or Canberra - which of these cities was preferred? It should be noted that many Australians consider their continent to be the most unusual. Residents of Sydney and Canberra praise their cities as the best. In Melbourne they claim that their city is more picturesque and more popular.

What is the name of the capital of Australia: Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra?

Federal authorities after 1901 were located in the specially created Australian Capital Territory. It was decided that the capital of Australia would be located here. Sydney or Melbourne - these two largest cities could become the administrative centers of the federation in the first decade after its creation. When the discussions ended, it was decided to put an end to the competition that had arisen. Temporarily preference was given to Melbourne. This is the former capital of Australia, where the federal parliament was located for a quarter of a century.

The idea of ​​building a new city took a very long time to be realized on the territory of New, but not in Sydney, but a little further from the coast. Only in 1908 was the location of the administrative and political center of the country finally approved, and in 1911 its design and construction began. Melbourne served as the capital until 1927.

Canberra: foundation and name of the city

Decades have passed since the creation of a unified state on the mainland, and many people still find it difficult to answer the question: “Is the capital of Australia Sydney or Canberra?”

In 1911, a competition was announced to design a new city. It was won by American architect Walter Griffin. The authors of the idea of ​​​​creating the capital had doubts about its name. The following options were proposed: James Cook, Shakespeare, Olympus, but, in the end, they retained the historical name.

In March 1913, the first stone was laid for the foundation of the city. The name of the new capital came from the village of the same name, Canberra, on the Molongo River. The distance from here to Sydney in the northeast is approximately 280 km, to Melbourne in the southwest - 650 km. The word "Canberra" can literally mean "meeting place" in the Aboriginal language of Australia. The first British settlement appeared here in 1820. A public holiday - Canberra's Foundation Day - is celebrated annually in Australia (the second Monday of March).

Growth, development and current realities of the capital of Australia

Economic turmoil due to World War I delayed construction. It was not until 1927 that the federal parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia moved from Melbourne to Canberra. The capital's growth and development slowed during the Great Depression and World War II. It was only after 1945 that Canberra began to prosper. Its population is about 392 thousand people. In the capital, the unemployment rate is lower and the average income is higher than in the country as a whole. Initially, the project envisaged the creation of a garden city, beautiful and convenient for living. Large areas of natural vegetation have been preserved in Canberra, and new parks and public gardens have been created. The country's Parliament meets in the capital, the Supreme Court and numerous government agencies are located. The historical sites and attractions of Canberra are as follows:

• Parliament buildings (former and current);
• St. Anglican Church;
• St. John's Churchyard;
• National Museum;
• war memorial;
• Australian National University;
• Royal Military College;
• National Gallery.

Features of the administrative-territorial structure and population density

In addition to the territory of the federal capital, Australia includes several regions that differ in area, size and population composition. The less populated and developed territory is the Northern one. In addition, there are 6 separate states: Western and Southern New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. The largest regions of Australia by area are Queensland and Western Australia.

The country's largest cities are located on the east coast, which is explained not only by the history of the discovery and settlement of the mainland. From the Pacific Ocean, a mountain range runs along the Australian coast, its average height is 1500-2000 m. This is the Great Dividing Range, which protects the coastal strip from dry hot winds blowing from the central desert regions.

The largest city on the east coast is Sydney. The population of the metropolis is about 4.4 million people. In photographs of the city you can often see the beautiful white building of the Opera House, reminiscent in shape of yacht sails or orange slices. The Sydney Opera House is one of the most beautiful architectural structures in the world - a symbol not only of the city, but of the whole of Australia. The author of the theater building project (Jörg Utzton) took 10 years to implement the complex technical solution. The unusual interior decoration of the opera was called “cosmic gothic”.

Melbourne is located south of Sydney and Canberra and has a population of about 3.9 million people. The city is considered the sports capital of Australia: international tennis tournaments and Formula 1 racing competitions are held here. Melbourne's interesting and distinctive architecture attracts tourists. The city has transformed from a fishing village into a metropolis in less than two centuries.

Brief description of the main socio-economic indicators

An overview of Australia would be incomplete without citing the main demographic indicators and mentioning other important socio-economic features of the country. The total area of ​​the federal state of Australia is about 7,687 km 2. The territory includes not only the mainland, but also a number of large and small islands closest to it. The country's population, according to 2014 data, is 23.8 million people.

Adherents of the Anglican Church in the Commonwealth of Australia account for about 26% of the total population. There are approximately the same number of Catholics and followers of other Christian faiths in Australia. At the time European colonists landed on the mainland, the indigenous population was at a low level of development. The Australian aborigines were engaged in collecting fruits and seeds in the wild, hunting and fishing.

Convicts began to be brought to the mainland from England, and the first colonies and other permanent settlements appeared. From the Old World, pathogens of human and animal diseases came to Australia along with the newcomer population and domestic animals. As a result of disease, the indigenous population declined significantly. Rabbits and other acclimatized herbivores caused great damage to wild flora.

Australia has the richest reserves of natural resources, which are mainly mined in the northern and western regions of the country. Mineral resources include deposits of natural gas, oil, coal, ferrous and non-ferrous metal ores, gold and uranium. Renewable energy sources are used on the mainland: solar radiation, tides, wind. The main rivers - the Murray and the Darling tributary - irrigate agricultural plantations in the southeast. Australia is an important livestock-raising region, with fine-fleece sheep and cattle breeding especially developed here. Investments from local as well as foreign companies are made in the extraction of fossil fuel raw materials (oil and gas). The Commonwealth of Australia is developing its mining and processing industries; raw materials, energy and agricultural products are exported. The country has a developed (service sector).

The role of the main monetary unit here is played by the Australian dollar. In terms of GDP per capita, the Commonwealth of Australia is among the top ten countries, ranking sixth in the world. and the capitals of Oceania attract the attention of tourists. For small island territories, income from this sector of the economy is the main one.

Australia within Oceania

The control of the Commonwealth of Australia extends to the archipelagos and islands: Ashmore, Cocos, Cartier, Macdonald, Norfolk, Christmas, Heard (some of the listed territories do not have a permanent population).

The capitals of Australia and Oceania differ significantly from each other in many respects. Most island countries have a predominant indigenous population. Even the largest sovereign and dependent territories are tens of times smaller than Australia. Thus, the area of ​​the country located north of Australia - Papua New Guinea - is about 463 thousand km 2, the population reaches 7.1 million.

Mysteries of a small continent

Traveling to Australia is attractive to many people, because the mainland is famous for its exoticism. There are many endemic flora and fauna found nowhere else here. As scientists suggest, in ancient times Australia was part of the proto-continent, but due to its split and drift to the southeast, it was removed from other continents. Thanks to isolation in Australia and on the island. Tasmania has preserved relict plants and marsupials, long extinct in Africa and Eurasia.

Based on the results of archaeological excavations, rock paintings, fossil remains of people, and ancient tools, researchers determined the time of settlement of the mainland. Findings indicate that the first people sailed to Australia from other inhabited continents. It is possible that the population has existed here for about 50 centuries, but it is more likely that the first inhabitants appeared about 21 thousand years ago.

Researchers classify the fauna of Australia as a special area, believing that the most ancient animals live in this region of the Earth. It is believed that in the Paleozoic era there were land connections with the Asian part of Eurasia. Back then, the fauna on the mainland was not so diverse. Long before the beginning of the Quaternary period, marsupials came to Australia. Around the same time, the final separation of the continents took place. Predators - representatives of higher mammals - were no longer able to penetrate into Australia. Therefore, they are not typical for the indigenous fauna of the continent we are considering. The oldest placental mammals - the platypus and echidna, and marsupials - kangaroos, koalas and other unusual animals are found in Australia.