To the question of which country of Canberra, without hesitation, one can answer only one thing: this is not a country, but a city. And almost any high school student will tell you about this, of course, if he carefully listened to the material presented by the geography teacher. At the same time, not all adults know that this city is the capital of Australia, and not Sydney or Melbourne, as many believe. This truly amazing creation of the twentieth century, in which you can not find old buildings or narrow streets. The city has its own special spirit. It was carefully thought out and planned to the smallest detail, and is generally atypical for the country.
Foundation History
For a long time the question of the capital of Australia was very acute. The fact is that such two large and important cities as Melbourne and Sydney claimed the right to be considered the administrative center of the state. In order not to infringe on the interests of any of them, in 1909 the government decided to build the capital of the state on neutral territory. The place where Canberra is located is indicated on the map by the Australian Parliament. At the same meeting, a competition was announced for a new city project. Representatives from around the world took part in it. The winner was an architect from Chicago, Walter Burley Griffin. As a result, according to his project in 1913, the new administrative center of Australia was laid, and the time of its construction took about half a century.
Construction Features
The area where the city of Canberra is located is a valley covered with rare species of plants and surrounded by hills. It is located 650 kilometers (northeast) from Sydney and 370 kilometers southwest (from it). In a literal translation from the language of the Aboriginal people, the name of the Australian capital means "meeting place." According to the proposed building plan, the city is clearly divided into areas, each of which has a specific purpose - for administrative buildings, commercial and office buildings, educational and cultural institutions and so on. The layout of the houses is strict and neat. Canberra received the official status of the capital of the Australian Union in 1927. Then the parliament and the government residence moved here.
general description
Canberra, whose coordinates are 35 degrees south latitude and 149 degrees east longitude, is located in the central part of the Australian mainland, at a great distance from the coast, at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level. Its area is approximately 800 square kilometers. The population exceeds the mark of 380 thousand people. In the very center of the Australian capital is Lake Burley Griffin, which is separated from the Molonglo River due to the dam. The picturesque landscape of the area where Canberra is located is due to the surrounding eucalyptus forests, savannas, green meadows and swamps. Moreover, the region is characterized by a high level of environmental friendliness, the air of Canberra is always fresh and clean. Continuous development, as well as the construction of industrial enterprises are prohibited here. The human imagination is striking in the diversity of species of birds that have chosen these territories. As for the wildlife, in the urban area you can find a wild dog dingo, kangaroo, marsupial bears, as well as many other representatives of the fauna. In addition, poisonous snakes are found here , the number of varieties of which reaches several tens.
Ethnic composition, religion and language
The area where Canberra is located, and its environs, are overwhelmingly inhabited by descendants of immigrants from European countries (mainly Irish and English). In addition to them, a large number of immigrants from Asian countries, Italians, Armenians, Russians, Ukrainians and Greeks live in the city. English is a state language. In addition, many residents of the Australian capital speak Russian, Greek and Italian. As for religion, about 80 percent of the population are Christians (Protestants and Catholics). Of the other religions, there is not much here, but still, Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism are widespread.
Climate
The determining factor in the formation of the climate of the city of Canberra is the coordinates of the Australian capital. Due to the remoteness from the coast, less humid weather prevails here, compared with the settlements of the coastal states. The same nuance is the cause of pronounced seasons. Throughout the year, no more than 620 millimeters of precipitation falls in the city. The rainiest period begins in the month of June and ends in August. At this time, the daytime air temperature is in the range of 15 to 18 degrees Celsius, and there are frosts at night. Snow is a very rare occurrence. If it falls out, it is delayed by a maximum of several hours. From November to January, there is intense heat, and the thermometer reaches 32 degrees above zero. In general, the weather in the city can change very rapidly, and night and day temperatures are characterized by strong differences. The best time to visit is considered to be from December to February.
Transport
Canberra is the capital that boasts high quality paved roads. This is largely facilitated by the beautification policy, constantly pursued by local authorities. Despite the fact that the car is considered the most widespread local means of transportation, the city has a developed network of public transport. The fastest and most comfortable are buses that run strictly on schedule and allow you to get to anywhere in the capital without any problems. The cost of a single fare is $ 2.5, while for a daily ticket you should pay about $ 6.6. You can buy them directly from the driver or at specialized kiosks. Buses do not stop everywhere, so in order not to miss your stop, you must timely click on the corresponding button in the cabin. Be that as it may, walking or cycling is a priority for many Canberra residents. The capital of Australia, among other things, has its own airport. With the largest economic centers of the state (Melbourne and Sydney), it is connected not only by highways, but also by rail.
Architecture
The city of Canberra, where there are a large number of modern national monuments, galleries, historical museums and other cultural institutions, boasts well-designed architecture. All the mentioned objects are mainly located around large artificial lakes. There are very few high-rise buildings here. All of them are concentrated on the river embankment. Thus, the Australian capital quite elegantly combines the features of a modern metropolis and a provincial town with an abundance of picturesque places and excellent natural landscapes. Canberra is the capital, which differs significantly from other Western European-style large cities. The fact is that it was planned as a state center for the development of science and culture, as well as as a government residence.
Communication
An interesting local feature is the abundance of telephone booths. They are found on every corner. At the same time, you can call from them to foreign countries. The cost of internal calls is $ 0.4, and a call to other states is paid depending on the time and subscribers. You can buy a phone card in almost any kiosk or store in Canberra. The country as a whole is quite developed in terms of communication: the Internet is widespread here, including 3G. You can purchase a SIM card of a local operator with roaming at any mobile connection point.
Interesting places
As noted above, in 1913 the city of Canberra was founded. Sights and historical monuments in connection with this are not so common here. Despite this, in the Australian capital there are many interesting objects. The Botanical Garden, which covers an area of 50 hectares, is very popular among locals and tourists. It contains about 6 thousand plant varieties. Separate words deserve the artificially created Lake Burley Griffin, which is located in the very center of the city. It should be noted that it is named after the architect who planned Canberra. In the middle of a powerful jet from it hits the fountain named after Captain Cook. Worth a visit and Capital Hill is a small-sized area with government buildings. The ideal place for walking, according to residents of the capital, is the Cookington Green Park, whose appearance is formed by miniature houses and gardens filled with various exotic plants.
sights
In the city of Canberra, attractions are represented mainly by objects created in a modern style. This is not surprising, because the Australian capital appeared on the map of the state only in the last century. An interesting local architectural monument is the old parliament building, built in 1927 and located in the city center. It consists of two floors and is built of white stone. The structure is surrounded by the National Rosary and stands out against other buildings with its massive columns.
The Australian War Memorial is Canberra's most famous world landmark. It is a whole complex, which includes a memory hall, a historical museum, as well as a research center. The memorial was built to perpetuate the memory of Australian soldiers who died during the two world wars. On its walls you can see the designations of those places where the inhabitants of the country died - Crete, Mesopotamia, the Coral Sea and others. The names of all the dead are printed on bronze plates inside. The halls present battle dioramas, samples of tanks, aircraft, weapons, as well as paintings by local artists on the same topic. Near the complex is a sculpture garden. Nearby is a 66-meter-high column with an eagle figure on it. The sculpture was erected in gratitude to the United States for the assistance provided during the Second World War.
Canberra is the capital not only political, but also scientific. The building of the National Academy of Sciences is located here and is among the local attractions. In its appearance, it is somewhat similar to the houses of the Eskimos from ice, so the Australians call it "yigla".
Special attention should be paid to the Telstra Tower erected in 1980. At its top, an observation deck is equipped. It offers an excellent panoramic view, and many tourists try to take pictures against its background. In addition, there is a souvenir shop, cafe and city museum inside.
Sport
The city of Canberra, where there is a huge number of jogging and cycling paths, special health centers, tennis courts, water complexes and exercise machines, is a true paradise for sports and active lifestyle lovers. In the Australian capital, as well as throughout the country, tennis, basketball, golf, rugby and cricket are quite developed. Competitions in the central stadium are held almost all the time. Despite the relatively modest size of the city, many teams representing various sports are deployed here.
Real estate and business climate
Many foreigners invest in urban real estate. However, they usually pursue investment and immigration goals. It should be noted that the Australian capital in this regard is more popular in comparison with the largest subjects of the country - Melbourne and Sydney, where prices are higher.
Government administration and defense are the main areas of Canberra’s economy. Australia is generally considered a developed country. However, this does not apply to its capital. The two areas mentioned above employ about 40 percent of the local population. In addition, the city can be called very progressive, since here are the headquarters of a number of software developers. This area of activity here has become the most profitable.
Food
Most of the local restaurants are located in the central areas of the city. If you wish, you can try dishes of almost any cuisine. The level of service is at a fairly high level, and the quality of food from year to year is getting better. It should be noted that Australian cuisine, which used to be practically no different from English, has recently acquired its own features. In particular, seafood has become its invariable attribute. Cheeses are excellently cooked in the Australian capital, and very exotic products can be found on the market - for example, shark lips or crocodile meat.
Accommodation, recreation and entertainment
Since Canberra is the capital of a large state, it is not difficult to find housing here. The options for accommodating city guests and tourists vary greatly in cost and comfort - from cheap hotels to luxury villas and hotels. Room rental prices start at $ 30 per day. As for the cultural program, it goes well with walks, relaxation, as well as visits to various entertainment facilities. In particular, the National Zoo, together with the aquarium, operates daily. In addition to it, nature lovers will be interested in visiting the Tidbinbill National Reserve. The Australian capital is famous for its many nightclubs and entertainment venues, so we can safely say that the leisure sector here operates around the clock. Shops are mostly open seven days a week. In them you can buy almost any item, including products from the famous Australian wool.
The nuances that tourists need to remember
Drinking water from a local water supply is undesirable. It is not dangerous to human health, but due to cleaning it can delay acclimatization.
Smoking in public places is strictly prohibited, and the use of alcohol is allowed only at certain times, and then not everywhere.
When walking in nature, do not forget about the means of protection from insects, which are very annoying here.
As for the time Canberra lives on, the city’s time zone is UTC + 10.
Canberra these days
As of today, the country's political power has concentrated in the city. Here is located not only the government residence, but also the embassies of other states. In recent years, Canberra has become one of the most visited cities by foreign tourists in the world. The capital of Australia, despite this, boasts a very low crime rate. If serious offenses take place here, they will instantly become public. The likelihood of becoming a victim of scammers or pickpockets is virtually nil.