Where is located and the name of the capital of Australia?Sydney or Canberra - some of these cities serves metropolitan functions?To give the right answers to these questions, take a trip to the far distance the mainland.It was discovered later in America, but before Antarctica.Disputes about who the first Europeans landed in Australia, not subsiding until now.It is also an ongoing debate about what is the most beautiful city in the country and convenient for life.
mainland Australia
kangaroos and koalas Photo - a kind of calling card of the smallest continent of the Earth.Australia almost 4.5 times less than in Africa and only 2.5 times more than the largest island of the world - Greenland.On the continent, there is a large state - the Commonwealth of Australia.Students often find it difficult to answer the question about the name of the capital of Australia: Sydney and Canberra?Melbourne or Sydney?And not only in the distant continent and country.There are several reasons to think before you call the capital city.Explain the situation to help the knowledge of the history of the discovery and colonization of the continent by Europeans.
Milestones of the first stage in the history of the discovery and development of Australia
Search sea route from Europe to India and China actively conducted in the period of the Great Geographical Discoveries Spaniards, Portuguese, and after them, and Dutch.Prior to the beginning of the XVII century in Europe we do not know where Australia.Fragmentary information about the voyages of the Portuguese sailors and traders to the shores of the unknown southern land there since the XVI century, but the evidence collected is not enough.
It is known that explorer Torres from Spain in 1606 passed through the Strait south of New Guinea, proving that it is an island, not part of the unknown southern continent.Torres saw through the strait that bears his name today, the shore some land (Australia).Great contribution to the study of the continent made the Dutch.For a long time it was not known how far the east stretches the territory of the southern continent.
Europeans seemed unusual open their lands located far to the south.First of all comes from the old Sveta surprised marsupials, red soil, drying up rivers.The most convenient for the life of immigrants from Europe were the territory in the east, where the moist winds from the ocean to the mountains linger, more rainfall than in the center of the continent.
Swimming D. Cook and the British role in the settlement of the continent
Known for its voyages around the world Englishman James Cook, knowing where Australia went to the years 1769-1770 to study the boundaries of the eastern coast.Passing along the coast of New Zealand, Cook reached the northern tip of the continent.From that time began the development of these lands subjects of the British Crown.January 26, 1788 was founded the first British colony.Until the end of the XVIII century remained poorly understood internal areas that did not prevent the English lay claim to the entire colonized continent.With views of the aborigines of Tasmania and the Australian one did not think so.
still tense debate about whether there was in the historic past, the genocide of the indigenous population of the continent.There is no doubt the answer to the question of which language is in Australia.The country is a vast number of participants of the Commonwealth of Nations.Formally previous monarchs and the current Queen of England - the head of an association of member countries and dependent territories.In Australia, the official language is English.
smallest continent of the Earth: the geographical position (GP)
In what hemisphere is Australia?Let's take a look at the map.As you can see, is the continent south of the equator, t. E. Is located entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.The main elements of the GP of Australia in latitude:
- York Peninsula - the extreme northern point of the mainland.
- most southern position on the continent takes Cape South Point.
- Australian territory stretches from parallel 10 ° S.w.to 39 ° S.w.
- continent almost in the middle of the South crossed the Tropic.
In what hemisphere is Australia: East or West?Mainland not cross the meridians 0 ° and 180 °, then it is completely located in the Eastern Hemisphere.The main elements of the GP of Australia Longitude:
- extremity of the west - m. Steep Point.
- extreme eastern position takes m. Byron.
- Australia lies east of the meridian 113 °.e., to the west of 153 ° E.d.
- total area of the continent is about 7.659 million. km2.
continent stretches from west to east about 4 thousand. Km.The distance to the north of the continent to its extreme point in the south is about 3.7 thousand. Km.
coastline of mainland Australia
wash:
- Timor and Arafura Sea in the north;
- Coral, Tasman Sea in the east;
- bays and straits of the Indian Ocean to the west and the south.
To the south-east of Australia, Tasmania is an island in the north-east - on.New Guinea.Along the eastern coast runs the world's largest cluster of coral - the Great Barrier Reef.Natural "construction" reaches a length of 2 thous. Km.Coral reefs, atolls difficult to approach from the east to the coast of mainland Australia (photo of one of the smaller islands is provided below).
Commonwealth
Up until the last decade of the XIX century Australia consisted of six separate colonies with their own governments, armed forces and other attributes of independence.In 1898 he started the development of the constitution of the federation of the colonies.The first day of 1901 Australians welcomed as citizens of a single state - the Commonwealth of Australia.
rivalry between the cities of the country, ranked sixth in the world in terms of territory, it began more than 100 years ago.There was a question: where will be the capital of Australia?Sydney or Canberra - which of these cities prefer?It should be noted that many Australians believe their continent most unusual.The residents of Sydney and Canberra touted their cities, considering that they are the best.In Melbourne claim that their city is more picturesque, more popular.
What is the capital of Australia: Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra?
federal authorities after 1901 have been placed on a specially created Australian Capital Territory.It was decided that there will be the capital of Australia.Sydney or Melbourne - these are the two biggest cities could become the administrative centers of the Federation in the first decade after its creation.When concluding the discussion, it was decided to end the competition has arisen.Temporarily preference is given to Melbourne.This former capital of Australia, where a quarter-century was the federal parliament.
idea of building a new city for a long time come to life on the territory of New South Wales, but not in Sydney, and a little farther from the coast.Only in 1908 it was finally approved by the location of the administrative and political center of the country, and in 1911 began its design and construction.Melbourne served as the capital until 1927.
Canberra base and the city
passed more than a dozen years after the creation of a single state on the mainland, but many people still find it difficult to answer the question: "The capital of Australia - Sydney or Canberra?»
in 1911 wasannounced a competition to design a new city.He won his American architect Walter Griffin.The authors of the idea of a capital had doubts about her name.We offer the following options: James Cook, Shakespeare, Olympus, but in the end, to preserve the historical name.
in March 1913 was laid the first stone in the foundation of the city.The name of the new capital came from the village of the same name on the river Molongo Canberra.The distance from here to Sydney's north-east - about 280 km to Melbourne in the south-west - 650 km.The word "Canberra" is translated from the language of the aborigines of Australia could mean literally "meeting place."English first settlement appeared here in 1820.National Holiday - Day of Canberra - Australia's decided to celebrate each year (the second Monday in March).
growth, development and the realities of today's Australian Capital
economic turmoil of the First World War delayed construction.Only in 1927 the Federal Parliament of Australia moved from Melbourne to Canberra.The growth and development of the capital has slowed during the Great Depression and World War II.Only after 1945 Canberra began to flourish.The number of its inhabitants is around 392 thousand. Man.In the capital, the unemployment rate is lower and the average income is higher than the national average.Initially, the project provided for the creation of a garden city, a beautiful and comfortable life.On the territory of Canberra remain significant areas of natural vegetation areas, broken new parks.In the capital, seat of the Parliament, is the Supreme Court, and numerous public institutions.Historical sites and attractions of Canberra following:
- Houses of Parliament (former and current);
- Anglican Church of St. John the Baptist;
- churchyard of St. John;
- National Museum;
- war memorial;
- Australian National University;
- Royal Military College;
- National Gallery.
features of administrative-territorial and population density
Besides the Federal Capital Territory, Australia is part of the few regions that differ in size, number and composition of the population.In less populated and developed area - North.In addition, there are six separate states of Western and South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.The biggest area regions of Australia - Queensland and Western Australia.
country's largest cities are located on the east coast, not only because of the history of the discovery and colonization of the continent.On the part of the Pacific Ocean along the Australian coast runs a chain of mountains, its average height - 1500-2000 m. This is the Great Dividing Range, which protects the coast from the strip of dry hot winds blowing from the central desert regions.
largest city on the east coast - Sydney.The population of the metropolis is around 4.4 million. People.In the photo of the city you can often see a beautiful white building of the Opera House resembles a sail yacht or orange segments.Opera in Sydney - one of the most beautiful architectural structures of the world - a symbol of not only the city, but the whole of Australia.Complex solution author of the theater building (Joerg Utston) embodied in the life of 10 years.Unusual internal decoration of the Opera has been called "cosmic Gothic".
Melbourne is located south of Sydney and Canberra, the number of its inhabitants is around 3.9 million people.The city is considered to be the sports capital of Australia: there are international tournaments in tennis, the match racers "Formula -1".Interesting original architecture of Melbourne attracts tourists.City in less than two centuries, has evolved from a fishing village into a metropolis.
Brief description of the main socio-economic indicators
Review Australia would be incomplete if you do not bring the main demographic indicators, not to mention other important socio-economic features of the country.The total area of federal state of Australia is about 7.687 km2.The territory includes not only the continent, but also a number next to it the large and small islands.The country's population - according to data for 2014 - 23.8 million people.
Adherents of the Church of England in the Commonwealth of Australia has about 26% of the total population.Approximately the same number in Australia, Catholics and followers of other Christian faiths.At the time of landing on the mainland European colonists indigenous population is at a low level of development.Australian Aborigines engaged in gathering fruits and seeds in the wild, hunting and fishing.
on the mainland of British convicts began to import, the first colony and other permanent settlements.From the Old World to Australia together with the migrant population and pets were agents of human and animal diseases.As a result of disease significantly reduced the number of indigenous people.Extensive damage caused wild flora of rabbits and other herbivores acclimatized.
Australia is rich in natural resources that are mined mainly in the northern and western regions of the country.The minerals can be called natural gas deposits, oil, coal, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, gold and uranium.Operated on the mainland renewable energy sources: solar radiation, tides, winds.The main rivers - the Murray-Darling tributary - irrigated agricultural plantations in the southeast.Australia - a major cattle-breeding region, especially developed fine-wool sheep are growing and cattle.Investment local as well as foreign companies invested in fossil fuel raw materials (oil and gas).The Australian Union develop the mining and processing industries, export-supplied raw materials, energy and agricultural products.The country has a developed tertiary sector of the economy (services).
role of the main currency is the Australian dollar performs.As GDP per capita of Australia among the top ten countries, ranking sixth in the world.Australia, Oceania and the capital of the country attracts the attention of tourists.For small island territories income from this sector of the economy it is essential.
Australia as part of Oceania
Control Commonwealth applies to archipelagos and islands: Ashmore, Cocos, Cartier, Macdonald, Norfolk, Christmas, Hurd (some of these areas have no permanent population).
capital of Australia and Oceania are significantly different from each other in many respects.In the majority of island states dominated by the indigenous population.Even the largest sovereign and dependent territories in the tens of times less than the Australian.Thus, the area of the country, located to the north of Australia - Papua New Guinea - is about 463 thous. Km 2, the number of residents reached 7.1 million.
Riddles small continent
Travel to Australia is attractive to many people, because the mainlandfamous for its exotic.There are many endemic, found nowhere else flora and fauna.Scientists maintain that in ancient times was part of Australia great-continent, but because of his division and drift to the southeast proved removed from other continents.Due to its isolation in Australia and about.Tasmania preserved relic plants and marsupials are long extinct in Africa and Eurasia.
According to the results of archaeological excavations, rock paintings, fossils of people, old tools, researchers have determined Check the mainland.The findings show that in Australia the first people arrived from other inhabited continents.Perhaps there are people here for 50 centuries, but it is more likely that the first inhabitants were about 21 thousand. Years ago.
Fauna Australian researchers have isolated a particular area, believing that in this region of the Earth inhabited by the most ancient animals.It is believed that in the Paleozoic era existed land due to the Asian part of Eurasia.Then, on the mainland fauna was not as diverse.Long before the beginning of the Quaternary period, came to Australia marsupial animals.Around the same time there was a final separation of the continents.As Australia has not been able to penetrate the predators - the representatives of the higher mammals.Therefore, we are considering an indigenous fauna of the continent, they are not typical.There are in Australia the oldest placental mammals - platypus and echidna, marsupials - kangaroos, koalas and other unusual animals.
