| Six sovereign states, federated in 1901, and seventerritories, including the Australian Capital Territory,the Northern Territory and various islands, comprise theCommonwealth of Australia. Despite the fact that it hasthe world s lowest density of population, Australia is themost urbanised nation. Eighty-two per cent of its sixteenmillion people live in its cities. The largest city, Sydney,capital of New South Wales, is a bustling, vital cityblessed with a magnificent harbour. The capital ofVictoria, Melbourne, is more conservative and English ,with its Victorian architecture, fine parks, gardens andtree-lined streets. The smaller state capitals, Brisbane,Adelaide, Perth and Hobart, have been less subject tooverseas influence and are more truly Australian.Canberra, an imaginatively designed city, is the nation scapital. Australia is a large island continent with a broadfertile coastal strip, which supports most of thepopulation, separated from the overwhelming desolationof the inland by mountain ranges. Its vast land massprovides a magnificent diversity of scenery, including theworld s largest coral formation, the Great Barrier Reef,mountain ranges that are alpine in character and idealfor winter sports, and the Red Centre, with its hugerocky outcrops sculptured by wind and sand. Diversity is also reflected in Australia s flora andfauna. The beaul~y and abundance of Australianwildflowers is unsurpassed. Geographically isolated,Australia provided a refuge for many unique species ofanimals, such as the koala and the kangaroo, Australia sbest-known ambassadors. |
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