Geography of Australia: Difference between revisions

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<b>Location:</b>
<b>Location:</b>

[[Oceania]], continent between the [[Indian Ocean]] and the South [[Pacific Ocean]]
[[Oceania]], continent between the [[Indian Ocean]] and the South [[Pacific Ocean]]

<p><b>Geographic coordinates:</b>
<p><b>Geographic coordinates:</b>

27 00 S, 133 00 E
27 00 S, 133 00 E

<p><b>Map references:</b>
<p><b>Map references:</b>

Oceania
Oceania

<p><b>Area:</b>
<p><b>Area:</b>

<br><i>total:</i>
<br><i>total:</i>

7,686,850 sq km
7,686,850 sq km

<br><i>land:</i>
<br><i>land:</i>

7,617,930 sq km
7,617,930 sq km

<br><i>water:</i>
<br><i>water:</i>

68,920 sq km
68,920 sq km

<br><i>note:</i>
<br><i>note:</i>

includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

<p><b>Land boundaries:</b>
<p><b>Land boundaries:</b>

0 km
0 km

<p><b>Coastline:</b>
<p><b>Coastline:</b>

25,760 km
25,760 km

<p><b>Maritime claims:</b>
<p><b>Maritime claims:</b>

<br><i>contiguous zone:</i>
<br><i>contiguous zone:</i>

24 nm
24 nm

<br><i>continental shelf:</i>
<br><i>continental shelf:</i>

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

<br><i>exclusive economic zone:</i>
<br><i>exclusive economic zone:</i>

200 nm
200 nm

<br><i>territorial sea:</i>
<br><i>territorial sea:</i>

12 nm
12 nm

<p><b>Climate:</b>
<p><b>Climate:</b>

generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north

<p><b>Terrain:</b>
<p><b>Terrain:</b>

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

<p><b>Elevation extremes:</b>
<p><b>Elevation extremes:</b>

<br><i>lowest point:</i>
<br><i>lowest point:</i>

Lake Eyre -15 m
Lake Eyre -15 m

<br><i>highest point:</i>
<br><i>highest point:</i>

Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

<p><b>Natural resources:</b>
<p><b>Natural resources:</b>

bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum
bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum

<p><b>Land use:</b>
<p><b>Land use:</b>

<br><i>arable land:</i>
<br><i>arable land:</i>

6%
6%

<br><i>permanent crops:</i>
<br><i>permanent crops:</i>

0%
0%

<br><i>permanent pastures:</i>
<br><i>permanent pastures:</i>

54%
54%

<br><i>forests and woodland:</i>
<br><i>forests and woodland:</i>

19%
19%

<br><i>other:</i>
<br><i>other:</i>

21% (1993 est.)
21% (1993 est.)

<p><b>Irrigated land:</b>
<p><b>Irrigated land:</b>

21,070 sq km (1993 est.)
21,070 sq km (1993 est.)

<p><b>Natural hazards:</b>
<p><b>Natural hazards:</b>

cyclones along the coast; severe droughts
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts

<p><b>Environment - current issues:</b>
<p><b>Environment - current issues:</b>

soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources
soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources

<p><b>Environment - international agreements:</b>
<p><b>Environment - international agreements:</b>

<br><i>party to:</i>
<br><i>party to:</i>

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

<br><i>signed, but not ratified:</i>
<br><i>signed, but not ratified:</i>

Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification

<p><b>Geography - note:</b>
<p><b>Geography - note:</b>
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer


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world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer


[[/Talk]]

Revision as of 09:08, 6 November 2001

Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 7,686,850 sq km
land: 7,617,930 sq km
water: 68,920 sq km
note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 25,760 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north

Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum

Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 54%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 21% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 21,070 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts

Environment - current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification

Geography - note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer


/Talk