Страноведческий топик. Австралия.

Australia

Australia is situated in the Southern Hemisphere. When people speak about Australia, they can mean 3 things:

1. Australia as a continent
2. Australia as an island
3. Australia as an independent country.

Australia is the largest island and the smallest continent in the world.

It is washed by the Indian Ocean in the west and by the Pacific Ocean in the east.

Australia is a land of striking differences. In the centre of the continent  and in the west  there are  3 deserts(Great Sandy Desert, the Great Victoria Desert and the Gibson Desert). Very few people live there. Most of them live in the east and southeast. Automobile plants and busy factories are situated in this part of the country. In the northeast there are tropical rainforests. In the mountains of the southeast the snow lies for 7 months of the year.

Australia is divided into 6 states and 2 territories.

New South Wales is the leading industrial state. Sydney –the largest city in Australia -is situated there.

In Victoria most people live in the south. Melbourne is the capital of the state. Sheep and wheat are the main products. Citrus fruits, grapes, peaches and apricots are grown along the Murray River.

Queensland is the second largest state in Australia. Brisbane is its capital. Queensland has long sandy beaches. The climate is hot and humid there. It’s the tropical corner of Australia. Bananas and other tropical fruits are grown here. The southern part is too dry for farming.

The rest of Western Australia is dry desert with very few towns. Nearly all the farms, sheep stations and fruit gardens are situated in the southwestern corner. Perth is the capital of this state.

South Australia is the 3rd largest state. Adelaide is the capital and the largest city. It is too dry for farming. Wheat and fruit are grown along the river Murray.

Tasmania is the island state. It is called the apple isle, because it produces most of Australia’s apples.

Tasmania has enough rain all year. It is the leading producer of pears and berries. Potatoes are also grown there.

Northern territory is   the least populated and least developed part of Australia. Crocodiles still live there. Darwin is its capital Alice Springs is the only town in the south

The capital of Australia is Canberra. It doesn’t belong to any state. It is situated on the Australian Capital Territory.