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Location
Australia is located in southern hemisphere between the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean
country called Australia is on a continent which is also called Australia
Geography
world’s smallest continent
sixth largest country
Area
total 7,686,850 sq km (slightly smaller than the contiguous 48 US States)
Capital
Canberra
Population
19,357,594 (July 2001 est.)
Government
democratic, federal-state system recognizing British monarch as sovereign
official name is Commonwealth of Australia
Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of Australia
Money
Australian Dollar (AUD)
Climate
generally arid to semiarid
Languages
English and native languages
History
United Kingdom formally claimed the western part of Australia in 1829
Economy
very wealthy economy
Industry
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, steel
Agriculture
wheat, barley, sugarcane and fruits
Natural Resources
plentiful supply of precious metals such as iron ore, copper, gold or uranium
Livestock
cattle, sheep and poultry
Plant Life
660 different species of acacias (better known as wattle)
76 different species of banksias
230 of the 250 different species grevilleas shrub
boab, bunya pine, cabbage palms, callistemons (bottlebrush), coolabah, desert oak, eucalyptus, ghost gum, kangaroo paw, MacDonnell ranges cycad, mitchell grass, Norfolk Island pine, pencil pine, river red gum, river sheoak, saltbush, spinifex, sturt’s desert pea, tree ferns, waratah
Animals
owls, bottlenose dolphin, crocodile (salt water), bilby, parrot, dugong, furseal, pelican,
great white shark, platypus, tree frog, western swamp tortoise, giant cuttlefish, pygmy possum, dingo,
red kangaroo, emu, kingfishers,
kookaburras, flying fox (grey-headed),frilled necked lizard,
sulphur crested cockatoo, Tasmanian devil, koala, kangaroo, wallaroo, magpie, wombats, wallaby
Sports
Australians love sports, including rugby, football, golf, soccer, swimming, and cricket
have gained high level of achievement in Olympics and other international sporting events
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Subject Index 
