Geography
area: 7,686,848 sq km
population: 17,336,000
capital city: Canberra
other towns: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Newcastle
Australia = the smallest continent, 6th largest state
6 states and 2 territories
Western Australia - 1/3 of Australia, city of Perth
South Australia - middle, capital Adelaide
Queensland - tropical north-eastern corner
New South Wales - the most populous state
Victoria - 2nd smallest state
Tasmania - smallest and island state
Northern Territory - the least populated and developed region
Australian Capital Territory - Canberra
three major land regions:
The Western Plateau - mostly vast desert, 2/3 of all land
The Central Lowlands - the eastern half of Australia, south - crops, mostly hot, dry
The Eastern Highlands - eastern edge, Great Dividing Range, fertile soils, the most heavily populated part of Australia
highest mountains - Australian Alps, Snowy Mountains (Mt.