Oz: Getting Started ======================================== Caption: Some basic facts about Oz Blurb: Gets you on your way to becoming an Australiologer. Tells you all the basic basics. Australia is often refered to as the island continent, mostly because it's a big island. It has a land area of 7,629,030 square kilometers, and has a population of about 19 million, which means a population density of around 2 people per square kilometre. Some other Ozfacts are: + The capital is Canberra - not Sydney. + Australia is made up of a federation of 6 states and 2 territories, with numerous islands and an Antarctic Territory as well. + The system of government is Democratic, with local, state and federal legislatures, all elected by compulsory vote. + The national anthem is "Advance Australia Fair". + Currency is the Australian dollar. + Native Australians are called Aborigines, and first arrived around 50,000 BC. + Much of Australia's wildlife is unique to the country. + Life expectancy is around 76 years. + National population is around 19,000,000. + Largest state is NSW - around 6.2 million people. + Largest city is Sydney (NSW) - around 4 million people. + Land area is 7,629,030 square kilometers, which is about the same as that of the USA minus Alaska or about 32 times the size of the UK. + Extremities are latitudes 10d 41' South (Cape York, Qld) and 43d 39' South (South East Cape, Tas), and longitudes 113d 9' East (Steep Point, WA) and 153d 39' East (Cape Byron, NSW). + Majority of land is arid. + Australia is flat. + Highest mainland peak is Mt Kosciuszko - 2228m. + Highest overall peak is Big Ben - 2745m. + Lowest point is Lake Eyre - 16m below sea level. + Longest river is the river Murray - 2,520km. + Australia gets very hot - highest recorded temperature 53.1 degrees C - Cloncurry, Qld. + Australia gets very cold - lowest recorded temperature -23.0 degrees C - Charlotte Pass, NSW. + Australia is windy - fastest wind speed recorded is 259km/h. + Around 75% of the population are religious. + Around 90% of the population are of european descent. + Around 85% live in (usually costal) cities. + Aussies drive on the left side of the road. Our national anthem is called "Advance Australia Fair". It has four verses, but only the first and third are official: Australians all let us rejoice, For we are young and free, We've golden soil and wealth for toil, Our home is girt by sea; Our land abounds in nature's gifts, Of beauty rich and rare, In history's page, let every stage, Advance Australia Fair. In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair. When gallant Cook from Albion sailed To trace wide oceans o'er True British courage bore him on Till he landed on our shore Then here he raised Old England's flag The standard of the brave With all her faults we love her still Britannia rules the wave In joyful strains the let us sing Advance Australia Fair Beneath our radiant Southern Cross, We'll toil with hearts and hands, To make this Commonwealth of ours, Renowned of all the lands; For those who've come across the seas, We've boundless plains to share, With courage let us all combine, To Advance Australia Fair. In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair. With Christ our head and corner stone, We'll build our nation's might Whose way and truth and light alone Can guide our path aright. Our lives, a sacrifice of love, Reflect our master's care With faces turned to heaven above Advance Australia fair In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia fair. Oh, and by the way, "Oz" is another way of spelling "Aus", which is an abbreviation of "Australia", so "Oz" means "Australia". Images on this page: Image: Filename: 2nd/Arms.gif Caption: The Coat of Arms Image: Filename: 2nd/Flag-Aus.gif Caption: Our Flag Image: Filename: 2nd/Parliament.jpg Caption: Parliament House Image: Filename: 2nd/Koala.jpg Caption: A Native Image: Filename: 2nd/Art.jpg Caption: Aboriginal Art Image: Filename: 2nd/Desert.jpg Caption: Desert Flora Image: Filename: 2nd/Boxing-Kangaroo.gif Caption: The Boxing Kangaroo Links on this page: Link: URL: http://www.australia.com/ Name: www.australia.com Description: A government tourism site for Oz Link: URL: http://www.ausflag.com.au/ Name: AusFlag - Our Own Flag Description: All about replacing the Australian flag Link: URL: http://www.aph.gov.au/ Name: Australian Parliament House Description: The official website of Australia's national parliament Link: URL: http://www.abs.gov.au/ Name: The Australian Bureau of Statistics Description: Get all the Ozstats you could ever want Link: URL: http://www.lonelyplanet.com.au/ Name: Lonely Planet Description: The now global Australian travellers guide book company Navigational links: Link: URL: 1st.txt Name: Oz: About Oz Description: Go to the previous page Link: URL: Mainmenu.txt Name: Oz: Oz Main Menu Description: Go home to the Main Menu Link: URL: Aborigines.txt Name: Oz: Aborigines Description: Go to the next page Bibliographical information: ---------------------------------------- + Title Oz: Getting Started + Creator Starweb Document Generator V2.6 + Subject Australian 2nd + Description A brief and broad description of things Australian + Publisher Lukas Tan + Contributor + Date 2003-05-05 + Type Content + Format text/plain + Identifier C:\Documents and Settings\Lukas\My Documents\Homepage\Oz\2nd.txt + Source 2nd.swx + Language en + Relation txt.swt + Coverage Australia + Rights Under Australian law, copyright of this document falls with it's publisher (Lukas Tan). Permission is granted for the use of the content of these pages for non - commercial educational purposes, provided that appropriate acknowledgement is given. + URL http://www.effect.net.au/lukastan/Oz/