Australia
Australia is located in the southern hemisphere between latitudes 10S and 44S and between longitudes 113E and 154E, Australia is part of the Asia-pacific region. Our nearest neighbors are Papua New Guinea to the north and New Zealand to the east.
Australia the smallest continent and one of the largest countries in the world. The Commonwealth of Australia is made up of six states--New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia--and two territories--the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Canberra is the capital of Australia.
Although the climate of Australia varies from tropical (monsoonal) in the north to cool temperate in Tasmania, the majority of the country is hot and dry; the sea exerts little moderating influence beyond the coast, and the highland area is too small and low to have more than local effect.
The tropical northern coastal region has two main seasons: a hot, wet season with summer rains falling mainly in February and March, when the north-western monsoons prevail; and a warm dry winter season characterized by the prevalence of south-easterly trade winds. The monsoon reaches inland for varying distances, extending furthest in Arnhem Land and the Cape York Peninsula. In most years, drought affects some part of Australia, and localized floods and tropical cyclones are common. South-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, has the highest incidence of bushfires in the world.
Australia has no established Church and its constitution guarantees freedom of worship. Although the majority of the population characterizes itself as Christian, most individuals are not active in that faith and Australian society is predominantly secular. The largest Christian denominations are the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches, each with 26 per cent of the total population. Approximately 24 per cent more belong to other Christian denominations, predominantly...
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