What is interesting the smallest continent of the planet? How is Australia located relative to other continents in the world? And why are ugg boots so popular in this sunny country? You will find answers to all these questions in our article!
Australia on a world map
Ever since antiquity, people have been convinced that south of the equator there is a vast continent in area. On hypothetical maps, they often signed it as Terra Australis. The word australis is translated from Latin precisely as "southern". However, Australia discovered by James Cook turned out to be much smaller than anticipated.
Speaking about this continent, it is very appropriate to use the prefix "the most." After all, Australia is the smallest, sunniest, oldest, most arid of the continents of our planet. Many more achievements and records can be attributed to him.
How is Australia located relative to other continents of the Earth, oceans and seas, large islands? This will be discussed in our next section.
How is Australia located relative to other continents?
Australia is located simultaneously in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth. Together with the numerous archipelagos of the Pacific Ocean, it forms a single part of the world under the name Australia and Oceania.
How is Australia located relative to other continents of the planet? It is worth noting that it is compact and isolated from other continents. Australia is south of the equator. Its closest neighbor is Eurasia. However, the distance between Cape Pyei (the southernmost point of Asia) and the northwestern Australian shores is almost 3,000 kilometers!
The coast of the continent is washed by the waters of the seas of two oceans - Indian and Pacific. In the immediate vicinity are two large islands: Tasmania in the south and New Guinea in the north.
Scientists believe that Australia is the first of the modern continents, which, millions of years ago, separated from the "body" of a single supercontinent of the planet. This is precisely what explains the stunningly isolated and unique local flora and fauna. So, about 70% of Australia’s wildlife is endemic (that is, species that are not found anywhere else in the world). Among them are a koala, a platypus, a Tasmanian devil, a nosed cockatoo and, of course, a kangaroo!
8 amazing facts about the nature and climate of Australia
To better understand the nature of this unusual continent, we offer you 8 amazing facts about Australia:
- the air on the island of Tasmania is recognized as the cleanest in the world;
- in southern Australia there is a farm that is larger than Belgium;
- Australians are very fond of kangaroo meat, dishes from it are on the menu of almost every local restaurant;
- it is in Australia that the coastal taipan lives - the most poisonous snake on the planet;
- the largest coral reef of the planet is located along the coast of Australia;
- Australia has the world's longest wall (5,600 km) protecting Queensland from raids by wild dingo dogs ;
- there is more snow in the Australian Alps than in all of Switzerland;
- despite the hot climate, warm ugg boots are very popular in Australia; Australians carry them in their homes, which are poorly protected from the cold (cold means here a decrease in air temperature to + 15 ... + 20 degrees).
Here it is - Australia! Unusual, interesting and very contrasting.