17.1 Australia
The name of the Australian continent comes from the Latin word australis, meaning "southern". The surface area of Australia is approximately 7,7 million square kilometers, and its population is 23 million. It is simultaneously a continent and a nation.
The islands of Oceania are considered part of the Australian continent, which is why the continent is sometimes called "Australia and Oceania". The largest islands of Oceania include New Guinea and the two main islands of New Zealands.
Australia was inhabited by stone age humans approximately 40–50 thousand years ago. They arrived on the previously uninhabited continent by wooden boats. These original settlers of Australia were the ancestors of the Aboriginal Australians.
Captain James Cook declared the continent property of Great Britain in the year 1770. After this, the continent began to receive immigrants from Europe. A majority of the modern Australian population is descended from these European settlers, most of which came from the British Isles.
Australia became independent from Great Britain during the 20th century, but the British queen is still the formal ruler of the nation. English is the official language of Australia. Large metropolises have formed on the coastal regions of Australia. An example of such a metropolis is Melbourne, pictured below.
Melbourne is one of the largest cities in Australia.
The islands of Oceania are considered part of the Australian continent, which is why the continent is sometimes called "Australia and Oceania". The largest islands of Oceania include New Guinea and the two main islands of New Zealands.
Australia was inhabited by stone age humans approximately 40–50 thousand years ago. They arrived on the previously uninhabited continent by wooden boats. These original settlers of Australia were the ancestors of the Aboriginal Australians.
Captain James Cook declared the continent property of Great Britain in the year 1770. After this, the continent began to receive immigrants from Europe. A majority of the modern Australian population is descended from these European settlers, most of which came from the British Isles.
Australia became independent from Great Britain during the 20th century, but the British queen is still the formal ruler of the nation. English is the official language of Australia. Large metropolises have formed on the coastal regions of Australia. An example of such a metropolis is Melbourne, pictured below.
Melbourne is one of the largest cities in Australia.