Mainland Australia is so small that the area is even less certain countries.Its territory - only 7.63 million. Square kilometers.It is the smallest continent in the southern hemisphere and crossed the southern tropic.Its shores are washed by the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.Because of the small size of Australia is sometimes called mainland-island.
Continent is not connected by land to any one of the other continents, it is completely apart.The rest of the continents of the world are at a considerable distance from Australia.This has contributed to the formation of a kind of plant and animal life, in many ways distinct from other parts of the world.
uniqueness Australia
In addition, it is the smallest continent, it has several features that make it truly unique.Extremely unusual fauna of the continent.Only marsupials live here - from small marsupial mice and moles to large kangaroo.Australian wolves and bears also have bags, which nurture their young.There are also representatives of the fauna, which you will not see on other continents - nearly 80% of the animals are endemic.The most famous of them - the echidna and the platypus.Amazing mammal platypus their young hatches from the egg, as do birds.Only here you can see dingoes, emus, koalas and kangaroos - Australia's most popular animals.
is unique and fauna: 90% of the plants of the continent - are endemic, found only here.The symbol of the Australian flora is considered Eucalyptus - the tallest tree of the planet, reaching a height of pyatidesyatietazhnogo home.
the smallest continent and even the driest in the world.Most of it is located in the tropical climate zone, resulting in almost the entire central part of the continent is a huge desert.Australia called the lowest and the mainland.215 meters - the average altitude, and the highest point has a height of 2,230 meters.
Past and present name
«unknown land" - so called Australia on ancient maps.She still remains for most people the mysterious land full of surprises, and country.The name of the continents most often associated with their geographical position, the same applies to Australia: Latin for «australis» means "southern".And there was the name recently, only in the beginning of the XIX century.Before that parts of it were called names that they gave discoverers.Finally secured its present name after sailing around the continent Englishman Flinders.
the smallest continent of the world is famous for the fact that it completely covers the territory of one country - of Australia.The biggest cities are Sydney, the world famous opera house to its present the eighth wonder of the world.Another masterpiece is considered unusual Harbour Bridge - the bridge over the beautiful Bay of Port Jackson, which has half a kilometer length of the arch.
