Wide open spaces
Australia is the sixth largest country in
the world. It's about the same size as the 48 mainland states of
the USA and 50 per cent larger than Europe, but has the lowest
population density in the world - only two people per square
kilometer.
Beaches galore
Australia boasts over 7,000 beaches - more
than any other nation.
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Little beauties
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Australia produces 95 per cent of the
world's precious opals and 99 per cent of black opals.
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Opal capital
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Coober Pedy in South Australia is
known as the opal capital of the world. Its population is
made up of more than 40 nationalities and, with year-round
extremes in temperature, more than 50 per cent of the
population live in below-ground 'dugouts'.
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Golden city
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Kalgoorlie in Western Australia is not
only Australia's largest producer of gold, but has the
world's largest political electorate - covering a mammoth
2.2 million square kilometers.
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Aussie icon
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The kangaroo is unique to Australia
and one of our most easily recognized mammals. There are
more kangaroos in Australia now than when Australia was
first settled. Estimates suggest around 40 million.
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Merinos en masse
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Australia's 140 million sheep (mostly
merinos), found on around 53,000 properties, produce more
than 70 per cent of the world's wool.
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Beef exports
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With 24 million head of cattle,
Australia is the world's largest exporter of beef.
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Flourishing flora
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Australia supports at least 25,000
species of plants, while Europe only supports 17,500.
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Long haul
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The longest stretch of straight
railway track in the world crosses the Nullarbor Plain. From
Nurina in Western Australia to near Watson in South
Australia, the track is dead straight for 478 kilometers.
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Long drive
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The Eyre Highway at Caiguna in Western
Australia has the longest stretch of straight road in
Australia - 148 kilometers. Crossing the southern edge of
the Nullarbor Plain, it is the only sealed road from Perth
to Adelaide, a 2700 kilometer drive.
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Long fence
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The world's longest continuous fence
known as the 'dingo fence', runs through central Queensland
for 5,531 kilometers. It is 1.8 meters high and is designed
to keep sheep safe from Australia's native dog.
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