Because it is south of the equator, the seasons in Australia are the opposite of those in Europe: it’s winter in Australia when it’s summer in Europe.

- It’s the 6th biggest country in the world.

- It’s an island, surrounded by water.

- It’s the smallest continent in the world

LOCATION

Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere

GEOGRAPHYThe official name is the Australia of Australia union.

It consists of:

6 federal states (one of which is the island of Tasmania)

2 territories (North Canberra and Australia + 8 smaller territories)

The Declaration of Independence : 1901Government: Constitutional MonarchyHead of State (2006 ) : Elizabeth II , Represented by a governor William DeanThe Prime Minister (2006 ) : John Winston HOWARDMembership: UN , Commonwealth ,APEC , ANZUS , OECD

• Australia is the driest continent.• Most of the territory lies in the tropics.• South Australia has a subtropical climate.• In the interior is dominated by deserts and semi-deserts, occupy

up to 70% of the territory (dry inland takes several years).• On the northern coast grow tropical rainforests.

HISTORY

James Cook discovered Australia in

1770.

Britain sent prisoners

and criminals to Australia.

Europeans sold the land

of Aborigines and killed

thousands of them.

Canberra.

Sydney, Sydney

Opera House

Where are the majority of

important cities in

Australia?

THE AUSTRALIAN FLAG

6th British

colony.

The

represents the 7 territories.

symbolizes the constellation.