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Australia is the largest island in the world and is located in the Southern Hemisphere.
It is the smallest among the continents of the world. Officially known as the
Commonwealth Of Australia and Australia is the sixth largest country in terms
of area occupied. However the population of Australia is relatively low in comparison
to the area. Australia has a population density of 2.6 per sq km and ranks 24th
in the world in this regard. About 25,450 sq km of the area is under irrigation
and an excellent agricultural organization gives the economy a solid foundation.
Australia is also replete with mineral treasures such as gold, silver and diamonds,
coal, natural gas and petroleum, iron, copper, zinc, bauxite, uranium and nickel.
Australia is a well-loved tourist destination and millions of visitors head
there every year to spend languid summer months and enjoy the spectacular sand
kissed beaches. Australia Tourism is one of the leading industries in the country.
A multifarious variety of flora and fauna inhabit this beautiful country and
the natural reserves and wildlife sanctuaries are major attractions. The landscape
of Australia is essentially a low plateau; central Australia being sand desert
regions and the southeast having fertile pains. Australia Climate is generally
equitable and tourists flock to the country all round the year. However the
winter months (April to November) are generally preferred due to the low precipitation.
English is the language commonly used. However, the Aborigines of the land
speak a number of local languages depending on the tribe and clan they belong
to. Australian culture grew rich and varied due to the settlement of the Europeans.
With them the settlers brought in varied and vibrant cultural influences and
such a mélange has created a thoroughly cosmopolitan civilization in
the island.
Formerly a British Colony, the six provinces of Australia united on 1st January
1901 to form the Commonwealth Of Australia. The constitutional dependence of
this nation on the United Kingdom ended on 11th December 1931 with the enactment
of the Statute Of Westminster. Since then Australia has gone on to carve out
its own space in international politics and is one of the world's leading nations.
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