Australia is completely situated in the Southern Hemisphere, consisting of Australia, Tasmania and islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The population is over 24 million. Canberra is the capital and political center of the country. The biggest and most populated cities are Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. The largest coral reef on earth, the Great Barrier Reef, stretches along the northeastern coast. The landscape of the country is mostly low-lying plains. Huge territories are occupied by deserts: the Great Victoria Desert, the Great Sandy Desert, and the Great Artesian Basin semi-desert.
The highest mountain on the mainland, Kostsyushko, is located in the Australian Alps.
There are no major rivers in Australia. Australia’s climate varies dramatically across regions. In the central part, the climate is arid. The northern coast of the continent has a subequatorial climate. It is humid in summer and rather dry in winter. The southern and eastern territories of Australia are located in the subtropical climate zone. Australia is quite isolated from other continents; therefore, it has unique flora and fauna. Many species from this area do not exist on any other land in the world. Platypus and echidna have survived in Australia, and many marsupials are found here. Many plants have adapted to the arid climate of the mainland, in particular the eucalyptus and bottle tree. It is home to ostriches, kangaroos, dingo dogs, wombats, marsupial bears, rodents, and many birds. Palm, ficus, beeches, banana and breadfruit trees grow here.