GeoFroggy

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Background

Australia became a commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901. It was able to take advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef. A referendum to change Australia's status, from a commonwealth headed by the British monarch to a republic, was defeated in 1999.

Location

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

Area Comparative

Slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 24 NM

Territorial sea: 12 NM

Exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

Continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

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

Natural Hazards

Cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires

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-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, 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

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

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Map Reference

Oceania

Irrigated Land 1998

24,000 sq km

Area 2002

Total

7,686,850 sq km
Water

68,920 sq km
Land

7,617,930 sq km

Coastline

25,760 km

Geographical Coordinates

27 00 S, 133 00 E

Land use 2002

Arable Land
6.88%
Permanent Crops
0.03%
Other
93.09%

Terrain

Mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Elevation

Lowest Point: Lake Eyre -15 m
Highest Point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

Land Boundaries

0 km

Natural Resources

Bauxite
Coal
Iron ore
Copper
Tin
Gold
Silver
Uranium

Nickel
Tungsten
Mineral sands
Lead
Zinc
Diamonds
Natural gas
Petroleum

Australia