Introduction:
Australia is an immense, beautiful, and fascinating country. Known for its unique wildlife, stunning views, and gorgeous beaches, Australia has much to offer to both locals and travelers. Here, we have rounded up some interesting facts about Australia that you may or may not have heard before. Read on to discover you may not know.
Fact 1: Australia is the World’s Smallest Continent
Australia is the world’s smallest continent and is made up of mainland Australia, islands, and territories. Mainland Australia has an area of about 7.692 million square kilometers, while the islands and territories make up around 2.44 million square kilometers. Australia is the sixth largest country in the world by land mass, and its total population is estimated to be around 25 million people.
Fact 2: Australia is Home to the World’s Largest Reef System
The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland is the largest coral reef system in the world and the largest living thing on earth. The reef runs for over 2,300 kilometers along the Queensland coast and is home to 1,500 species of fish, more than 800 types of coral, and hundreds of species of bird, reptiles and mammals.
Fact 3: Australia is Home to Many Unique Animals
Australia is home to many unique native animals you won’t find anywhere else in the world. From the iconic kangaroo to the little-known Bettong (a small wallaby-like marsupial), Australia’s animals are varied, fascinating, and sometimes downright strange. Other unique native animals include the koala, wombat, Tasmanian devil, echidna, platypus, and monitor lizards.
Fact 4: Australia is Larger than Europe
Despite its small population, Australia’s land mass is larger than that of Europe. This means that the majority of the continent remains unspoilt, remote, and largely uninhabited. With its vast outback, deserts, and mountain ranges, Australia is a land of contrasts and unexplored beauty.
Fact 5: Australia is the Driest of the World’s Continent
Australia is the driest of the world’s seven continents. It receives an average of only 18.5 inches of rainfall per year, with the majority of the continent’s rainfall occurring in winter. Despite its arid climate, Australia is home to 20 large wetlands, one of the world’s largest areas of desert, and some of the world’s most diverse landscapes.
Fact 6: Australia is the World’s Most Urbanized Nation
Australia is the world’s most urbanized nation, with over 90 percent of the population living in urban areas. Australia’s major cities include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Hobart, all of which have diverse populations, cultures, and attractions.
Fact 7: Australia is Home to the World’s Oldest Desert
The Gibson Desert, located in Western Australia, is the world’s oldest desert. It covers an area of about 160,000 square kilometers and is home to hundreds of species of animals and plants. And if you’re feeling brave, you can try crossing the desert on a camel with one of the local Outback tours.
Fact 8: Australia Has Over 10,000 Beaches
Australia has over 10,000 beaches, some of which are among the most stunning beaches in the world. With its many sunny days and high temperatures, Australia’s beaches are perfect for swimming, surfing, and sunbathing. Popular beaches include Bondi Beach in Sydney, Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, Palm Beach in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast.
Fact 9: Australia is the World’s Largest Opal Producer
Australia is the world’s largest producer of opals, accounting for around 90 percent of the world’s opal output. The oldest known opal mines are in Australia, and opal mining is an important commercial activity in the outback, especially in the states of New South Wales and South Australia.
Fact 10: Australia is the World’s Largest Wool Producer
Australia is the world’s largest wool producer, accounting for around 29 percent of the world’s total wool production. With its huge sheep population, Australia is the main supplier of wool around the world. According to the Australian Wool Exchange, the majority of wool produced in Australia goes to China, India, and the United Kingdom.
Fact 11: Australia Has the World’s Largest Sand Island
Australia is home to the world’s largest sand island, Fraser Island. Spanning an area of some 121 km long, and 22 km wide, Fraser Island is an unique and fragile environment home to some of the world’s oldest rainforest. It is also home to some of Australia’s rarest creatures, including dugongs, dingos, and loggerhead turtles.
Fact 12: Australia is the World’s Most Crowded Island
Australia is the world’s most crowded island, with over 40 million people living on the island continent. Australia is one of only two countries in the world that occupies a single island, the other being New Zealand. Despite its small population, Australia is one of the world’s most multicultural and diverse nations, and is home to people from over 200 different countries.
Fact 13: Australia is the World’s Longest Fence
Australia has the world’s longest fence. It’s over 5,500 kilometers long and is used to keep wild dogs out of agricultural land. The fence began construction in 1880 and it is still in use today. It starts in Southern inland Queensland and runs to areas of South Australia on the shore of the Great Australian Bight.
Fact 14: Australia has the World’s Only Webcam Monitored Nesting Site of Sea Eagles
Australia has the world’s only webcam-monitored nest of sea eagles in the Murray River near Torrumbarry, Victoria. The nest, which is watched by over 130,000 people around the world each year, allows visitors to observe the eagles’ natural behavior and to watch the baby eagles grow and eventually set off into the wild.
Fact 15: Australia is the World’s Third Most Popular Destination for International Tourists
Australia is the world’s third most popular destination for international tourists and attracts around 8 million tourists per year. Popular attractions include the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney Opera House, the Great Ocean Road, and the Ayers Rock (Uluru) in the Northern Territory.
Conclusion
Australia is an intriguing, diverse, and historically rich country with plenty of interesting facts. From being the world’s smallest continent, to having the world’s longest fence, Australia is full of surprises. We hope this list of has inspired you to want to learn more about this amazing country.
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