There are no states in the modern world that, like Australia, could boast that their area covers an entire continent. The "Green Mainland" (as they often say about the Australian Union) is the only country completely isolated from neighboring powers by the waters of the oceans on all sides. In the direction south-east of Eurasia, the continent occupies a rather favorable EGP. Australia is characterized by isolation and remoteness from the whole modern world, but this fact does not in the least prevent the country from being considered one of the most developed in the world.
The geographical position of the mainland
The waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans wash its shores. About 99% of the territory of the Australian Union is located on the mainland. The islands, including Tasmania, occupy the remainder of the area to which the sovereignty of the state extends. About 7.7 million square meters. km allow Australia to enter the top ten largest countries in the world, confidently occupying the 6th line in the corresponding rating. Ahead of it are Russia, the Republic of China, the North American states - the USA, Canada, and Brazil.
It takes about a week to travel across Australia from east to west and from south to east by car. After all, the length of the mainland is almost 4.5 thousand kilometers, and the width is slightly more than 3 thousand kilometers. In the central part of the continent lies the South Tropic.
Australia is an economically developed country
EGP Australia deserves special attention. The pros and cons of its remoteness from other modern states are significantly reflected in all spheres of the country's life. Australia’s relatively close location to the powers in southern Asia and Oceania has a positive effect on maintaining international relations and the trade partnership of this state with world leaders. The Continent is a full member of many influential international organizations, including the UN, IMF and others.
But the fact that the country does not have land borders is an obstacle to the implementation of many trade projects and the maintenance of economic ties with other powers. In addition, it is the costs of transporting products from Australia that account for most of the logistics costs.
It is immediately worth noting that Australia is undoubtedly a highly developed, modern country, the economy of which is exemplary for many of today's powers that are at the stage of transition to a market economy. GNP indicators allow her to occupy leadership positions in the global division of labor. At the same time, the main specialized industry of the Australian Union is the agrarian sector.
Climatic features of the continent and a brief history of its settlement
The characteristic of Australia's EGP allows us to analyze the profitability of its location relative to other states and to understand how the location of the mainland influenced the formation of such a successful and leading country in many respects. The Green Continent extends in several climatic zones. If we consider their sequence from north to south, then it will look like this:
- Subequatorial (in the northern regions of the mainland).
- Tropical (occupies the central part of the country).
- Subtropical (southern Australia).
- Moderate (Tasmania Island).
As early as the 17th century, the features of EGP in Australia interested sailors. The mainland was discovered in 1606 by the Dutchman Willem Janszon, although most historians believe that James Cook, who proclaimed the Kingdom of England as the owner of Australian lands, is the discoverer of the continent. For the first time his ships moored to the coast in 1770.
The Parliament of England did not hesitate in appropriating sections of the mainland and Oceania. The law on the formation of prisoners' settlements on its territory finally extended the ownership of Europeans to until recently wild lands.
For the period from 1788 to the 50s of the XIX century, about 340 thousand people arrived in Australia, half of which were convicts, and the second - free immigrants. Thus, the country's population was formed and the Anglo-Australian nation formed.
Government structure and economic and geographical position of Australia
The main features of the EGP of Australia determined its administrative and political division. The federal state that it is, is part of the Commonwealth of Great Britain and includes 6 states, among which:
- Western Australia
- South Australia
- Victoria;
- Queensland;
- Tasmania;
- N.S.W.
Officially, the Queen of Great Britain is considered the head of the Australian continent. The Governor-General, acting on behalf of the monarchy, is appointed at the insistence of the local government.
In 1931, Australia received almost complete freedom and sovereignty. Both in internal affairs and in the country's activities in the international arena, Australia has gained sufficient autonomy.
Oceania in the economic and geographical position of Australia
Oceania has a significant place in the EGP of Australia. Briefly, it can be described as a complex of islands of various origins. The largest and most developed is Tasmania, and the islands of Ashmore and Cartier are uninhabited. Located in tropical and equatorial latitudes, the air temperature in these areas varies between + 23-30 ° . A large amount of precipitation on the islands (up to 15,000 mm per year) contributes to the presence of a rich flora and fauna. However, the same cannot be said about Australia. It is called the driest continent of the whole globe.
Minerals on the Continent
A huge role in the EGP of Australia is played by deserts. Vast sandy spaces that extend over 2.5 km from the coast of the Indian Ocean to the Great Dividing Range are considered unsuitable for living and have not been used by humans for a long time. High air temperature, which is about + 35 ° according to average annual indicators, and almost complete absence of precipitation did their job - until the middle of the last century, about 35% of the mainland was empty and was considered useless.
But discovered mineral deposits fundamentally changed the situation. Work on the extraction of valuable resources is ongoing to this day. Deposits of gold, coal, uranium, iron ore, manganese and lead allowed Australia to “fly up” to the top of the ratings of world countries in terms of mineral wealth. Today Australia is one of the largest producers and suppliers of natural raw materials.
In conclusion, about Australia
So, in a fairly short period of time, the state has passed a difficult path of development. EGP Australia allowed the state to go from a colonial appendage of the English Empire to an independent country with a high standard of living. A huge role in this belongs to the flow of immigrants from the European part, because it was their fate that the task of raising and developing the newly-made state fell. Highly qualified specialists, including representatives of working specialties and engineers, have made their most valuable contribution to the formation of the modern Australian Union.
EGP Australia, despite its separation from the whole world, for over a century remains the best producer of food and agricultural products. More than 60% of all country's products are exported. Developed in the country are also considered branches of dairy production, industry, winemaking and brewing.