Australia is located on the world's smallest continent but it is the sixth largest country in the world after Russia, Canada, China, the United States and Brazil. It has, however, a relatively small population. Australia is an island, surrounded by water. Its land mass of nearly 7.7 million km2. It is the flattest and (after Antarctica) the dryest of continents, yet it has extremes of climate and topography.
Australia is an independent Western democracy with a population of more than 20 million. It is one of the world's most urbanised countries, with about 70% of the population living in the 10 largest cities. Most of the population is concentrated along the eastern seaboard and the south-eastern corner of the continent. Australia's lifestyle reflects its mainly Western origins.
Australia's major industries are mining and farming. Mining includes bauxite, coal, copper, gold and iron ore. Most of the land is too dry for planting crops, although some areas do grow sugercane, grapes and wheat. The grape vineyards help to support a growing wine industry. Australia is probably best known for its sheep farming. Large numbers of sheep are raised for their wool and meat. There is also some cattle ranching to provide meat.
In addition, Australia's climate and dramatic scenary have made tourism a major industry.
Much of Australia has a continental climate. The temperatures get hot during the day, then drop considerably at night. Australia is also very arid, getting very little rain.
More than one-fifth of its land area is desert, more than two-thirds being classified as arid or semi-arid, unsuitable for settlement. The coldest regions are in the highlands and tablelands of Tasmania and the south-eastern corner of the mainland. The hottest temperature recorded was 53°C (127°F)at Cloncurry in Queensland in 1889.
Australia is the only continent without current volcanic activity - the last eruption took place 1400 years ago at Mt. Gambier.
Australia's capital city is Canberra and its major city are Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide.
