GeoFroggy

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Background

In recent decades, Australia has become an internationally competitive, advanced market economy due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s and its location in one of the fastest growing regions of the world economy. Long-term concerns include an aging population, pressure on infrastructure, and environmental issues such as floods, droughts, and bushfires. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth, making it particularly vulnerable to the challenges of climate change. Australia is home to 10 per cent of the world's biodiversity, and a great number of its flora and fauna exist nowhere else in the world.

Location

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

Area Comparative

Slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 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 freshwater resources

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography Note

World's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; the largest country in Oceania, the largest country entirely in the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest country without land borders; the only continent without glaciers; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast and is one of the most consistent winds in the world

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Map Reference

Oceania

Irrigated Land 2013

23,780 sq km

Area 2015

Total

7,741,220 sq km
Land

7,682,300 sq km
Water

58,920 sq km

Coastline

25,760 km

Geographical Coordinates

27 00 S, 133 00 E

Land use 2015

Agricultural Land
53.4%;
Forest
19.3%
Other
27.3%

Terrain

Mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Land Boundaries

0 km

Natural Resources

Bauxite
Coal
Iron ore
Copper
Tin
Gold
Silver
Uranium
Nickel

Tungsten
Rare earth elements
Mineral sands
Lead
Zinc
Diamonds
Natural gas
Petroleum

AUSTRALIA