Which is the only country that is also a continent? Interesting facts to know
A country which stands alone as a continent and a country is 'Australia'.
It occupies the most of the Australian continent which includes the mainland, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. Among all the seven continents, the Australian continent is the smallest which covers about 8.56 million square kilometres. But also Australia is the sixth largest country in the world in terms of area of the land.
Australia is also known as the island continent, as it is a vast landmass surrounded by oceans.
Here are some interesting facts about Australia:
The only country that covers an entire continent
Australia is a single nation that dwells on a whole continent together with mainland Australia as well as the island of Tasmania and many other smaller islands which are associated with it. It is the smallest continent in the world but the sixth-largest country in area that occupies approximately 3,200 km from north to south and 4,000 km east to west.
One of the flattest and driest inhabited continents
The Australian continent is mostly flat and has low relief and is referred to as the flattest continent in the world.
It is also one of the driest populated continents with most of its parts being present in the central and western parts which are arid or semi-arid. Desert covers up to one-third of the country and two-third is categorised as arid land. Central Australia is occupied by the world renowned Outback, an enormous and rugged region which is famous because of its extreme conditions and the presence of natural beauty there.
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Unique and iconic wildlife
One thing that is most clearly known worldwide about Australia is its unique wildlife, a lot of which is to be found nowhere.
Its endemic species figure is around 80 percent of its animal life that includes kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, wombats, dingoes, and kookaburras. It also harbours some monotremes such as the platypus and echidna which are the only egg laying mammals in the whole world. Most of the species have evolved through different adaptations to survive the continent's challenging environments.
The
Great Barrier Reef
: The world's largest coral reef system
The Great Barrier Reef occupies a distance of over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) off the Queensland coast.
It is the biggest reef line system in the world and is famous for its wonderful marine life and spectacular under-water landscape. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site and a popular tourist destination.
Snow in the Australian Alps
There are regions in Australia that experience heavy snowing. In New South Wales and Victoria, the Australian Alps in fact receive more fresh snow annually than Switzerland. These areas have the possibilities of skiing and snowboarding during the southern winter months.
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Home to ancient cultures
Aboriginal people, the first inhabitants of the Australian continent have lived on the continent for approximately 60,000 years, making it one of the oldest cultures in the world. They established intricate societies, languages, art as well as spiritual traditions which were connected closely with the land. The indigenous people of Australia have today continued to play a significant role in maintaining the identities and heritage of the country.
A landscape of contrasts: Deserts, rainforests, and fertile coasts
The deserts interior characterises the country but the coastal region particularly which is located in the southeast and southwest is fertile and populated. The northeast is covered in rainforests and the Great Dividing Range adorns its eastern fringe and nourishes river system and Australia's Great Artesian Basin, the largest groundwater source in the world.
Vast coastline and thousands of beaches
The coastline of Australia is very long, it extends to above 35,000 km, and there are more than 10,000 beaches in Australia.
It would require a duration of about 30 years to visit all the beaches located in Australia. Such long coast defines Australian way of life, tradition of being outdoor and related to beach, and sport activities with water.
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Multicultural society and vibrant cities
Australia is also an ethnically diverse nation of the world and about a fourth of the Australian population came into this world as an overseas born. Such cities as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are distinguished with the cosmopolitan culture, booming arts and great quality of life.
Unexpected facts
It is the only continent that has no volcano in the world. The sheep has a population of at least fourteen times the human population thereby making it the world's leading producer of wool. Even such local hilarity and practices as world cockroach racing championship in Brisbane is held in the country on annual basis.
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