Australia is the only country that is also a continent. In area, it ranks as the sixth largest country and smallest continent. Australia lies between the South Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The name Australia comes from the Latin word australis, meaning southern. The country’s official name is the Commonwealth of Australia.
Australia is a dry, thinly populated land. The southeastern coastal region has the most people by far. Australia’s two largest cities – Sydney and Melbourne – lie in this region. Canberra, the national capital, lies only a short distance inland. The huge interior of Australia is mostly desert or dry grassland and has few settlements. Australia is famous for its vast open spaces, bright sunshine, enormous numbers of sheep and cattle, and unusual wildlife. Kangaroos, koalas, platypuses, and wombats are only a few of the many unusual animals that live in Australia.…
