AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Australia

GEOGRAPHY

Australia is an island continent. The Indian Ocean is west and south, the Pacific is east. Tasmania lies 240 km south.

The Great Dividing Range along the Eastern coast (The Australian Alps) has the highest Australian mountain Mt. Kosciusko which is about 2,000 m high. The western plateau are arid areas in the Great Sandy and Great Victoria Deserts. The north-western part of Western Australia and Northern Territories are arid and hot. The North-East has heavy rainfalls and Cape York Peninsula has jungles. The Murray River flows from New South Wales to the Indian Ocean. The second largest river is the Darling. There are 3 big lakes here: Lake Eyre, Lake Torrens and Lake Gairdner.

The animals of Australia are numerous and some of them like the kangaroo, koala bear, dingo, platypus, Tasmanian devil, wombat, barking and frilled lizards cannot be found elsewhere. Sheep and rabbits were brought from England. Rabbits increased and grew wild and mean a big danger for Australian farmers.

PEOPLE

The population of Australia is some 17,000,000. Australian English and aboriginal languages are spoken here. Around 85 % people live in urban areas mainly along the south-east coast.

HISTORY

Captain James Cook explored the eastern coast in 1770. Australia was first a convict colony. From 1788 till 1850s immigration increased because gold was found here. The Commonwealth was proclaimed in 1901.

NATIONAL ECONOMY

Main industries are iron, steel, textiles, electrical equipment, chemical, car, aircraft, ship and machinery. It belongs to the top exporters of beef, lamb, wool and wheat. Other agricultural items are barley, oats, hay, sugar, wine, fruit and vegetables. Natural riches contain mainly bauxite, coal, copper, iron, lead, nickel, silver, tin, uranium and zinc ores. Among the main partners belong: Japan, the USA, the UK, New Zealand. Currency used in Australia is Australian Dollar.

The Australian national flag consists of the British Flag symbol and a larger blue field in which 5 stars are arranged in the form of the Southern Cross constellation. The large white star under the British Union Jack symbolizes 6 Australian states and 1 territory.

New Zealand

GEOGRAPHY

New Zealand consists of two large islands in south-west Pacific Ocean. Each of the two main island is mainly hilly and mountainous. The east coast consists of fertile plains, especially the large Canterbury Plains on South Island. A volcanic plateau is in the centre of North Island.

PEOPLE

Population is about 4,000,000. 83 per cent of the whole population live in urban areas. Officially English is spoken here but some still speak Maori.

HISTORY

The first European was a Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, but Maoris refused him to land. Captain James Cook explored the coasts during 1769 - 1770. British sovereignty was proclaimed in 1840 and the colony became a dominion in 1907. Now it is an independent member of the Commonwealth.

NATIONAL ECONOMY

Foodprocessing, textiles, machinery and forest industry are the main industries here. The main agriculture item is grain. It is rich in oil, gas, iron ore and coal. The main trading partners are the USA, Australia, Japan, Great Britain.

Currency used here is the New Zealand Dollar.

The flag consists of the British Union Jack in the left upper corner and 4 red stars in the Southern Cross constellation.