STUDYING IN AUSTRALIA: octubre 2012

INTRODUCTION

"Studying in Australia" is the name of the new blog I´m going tho develop in my English course Level 4.
Australia is a beautiful country, full of opportunities for immigrants and people for working, living and studying. I´m very impressed with images of contrasting places in geography all over the country.

Let´s see together what I mean!

COUNTRY PROFILE

Australia location

COUNTRY PROFILE

Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Oceania continent, the Island of Tasmania and numerous small islands. It is the world´s sixth-largest country by total area.

Its official name is "Commonwealth of Australia".

Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north; the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east, and New Zealand to the south-east.

Australian flag

Monetary unit: Australian dollar.

Area: 7.692.024 sq km

Official language: English.
Other languages: Chinese, Italian, Greek, Arabic, Vietnamese.

Ethnical information: Caucasian (92%) Asian (7%) Aboriginal and others (1%)

Religion: Protestant (27.4) Catholic (25.8) Others: Orthodox, Buddhist, Muslim

Total population: 22 million people

Capital City: Camberra (384.000 inhabitants)

Brisbane (1.970 million)

Largest cities.

Sidney (4.429 million)

Melbourne (3.853 million)

Perth (1.599 million)

KIND OF GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMY

As a Commonwealth of the United Kingdom, Australia´s head of state is the British monarc. It has a Governor-General, who represents Sovereign Queen as a symbolic image. Australia has also a Prime Minister. Its kind of Government is Federal Parliamentary Democracy.

Many Asutralians think the country should end its ties to Britain and become a republic. In a vote in 1999, Australians decided against separating from the UK, but the debate continues.

Although Australia is rich in natural resources and has a lot of fertile land, more than one third of the country is desert.

Australia is an important exporter of agricultural goods like wool, wheat, beef, fruit and wine.

mineral mine

The country is also rich in metals and is the world´s fourth largest producer of gold.
Other natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, mineral sands, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum.

ABOUT HISTORY AND CULTURE

ABOUT THE HISTORY

Aboriginal people arrived in Australia about 50.000 years ago from Asia across land bridges that were exposed when sea levels were lower. The hardy Aborigines had to learn how keeping alive among the harsh conditions of the outback.

Dutch explorers first landed in Australia in 1606, and the British began to settle there in 1788. Many settlers were criminals sent to live there as a punishment..

For a short time, the newcomers lived peacefully with the Aboriginal people. But soon, fighting broke out over who owned the land.

Aboriginal people today

In 1851, gold was discovered in Australia. A rush to find riches brought thousands of new immigrants, and by 1859 six separated colonies existed. In 1901, these colonies joined to form a British commonwealth.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Australia is one of the world´s most ethnically diverse nations. Nearly a quarter of the people who live in this country were born in other countries. They come from the United Kingdom and other European countries, but also from China, Vietnam, North Africa and the Middle East.

Australia´s warm, sunny climate and abundance of open spaces give the population a variety of expectations in activities outdoors.

diving

sailing

surfing

The people are also passionate about sports, including swimming, surfing, sailing, tennis, soccer, cricket, rugby and other own invention in Australian football rules.

vegemite with bread

austalian open

Gastronomy in Australia is characterized by ingredients and dishes that show its historical and multicultural past: Aboriginal cooking, British and Irish cooking of the first European settlers, and Asian and Mediterranean cooking brought by immigrants after the First World War.

kangaroo steak

sea food

Pavlova

NATURE AND CONTRASTING GEOGRAPHY

NATURE AND CONTRASTING GEOGRAPHY

Australia´s ecosystem is an unusual one because of its remote location. As a result, there are many animal species. The most famous ones are kangaroo and koala.

Australia has 516 national parks to protect its unique plants and animals.

Australia is home of many of the deadliest species of animals on planet: spiders and snakes.

There are also several types of forest: tropical, subtropical in the country.

The natural geography there is simply amazing, full of colour and contrast where visitors find a lot of options to visit and many activities to do.