Australia is a country that is also an island continent. It lies in the southern- hemisphere between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is about three- quarters of the size of Europe, but Europe has 56 times as many people. Its full name is the Commonwealth of Australia, and it consist of six states, to mainland territories, and eight external territories. Australia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Several islands lie around the coast. The largest and most important of these is Tasmania, which is south of the mainland of Australia. Tasmania is about as large as Ireland. The Great Barrier Reef on the north- eastern coast is a 1, 200- mile chain of coral reefs and islets. It is the longest coral reef in the world.
Most of the western and central part of Australia is a large, flat plateau rising to a height of about 1,200 feet above sea level. Three deserts make up most of the region- the Great Sandy Desert, the Gibson Desert, and the Great Victoria Desert. Few people live there. Close to the east- coast is a long range of mountains called the Great Dividing Range. It runs down most of the eastern side of Australia. The great Darling River rises in these mountains and then flows south-westwards for 1,700 miles, before joining the Murray River at Went- worth in New South Wales. …
