Australia

The continent of Australia is the smallest in the world. But it is a land out of the ordinary. It has amazing natural beauty, exotic flora and fauna and is a treasure trove of natural wealth. The aboriginals of the continent along with their indigenous culture make it a place of worth visiting.

Official Languages:

As the continent had the English as their colonial masters therefore English has become the national language but it is spoken and written in a well-defined manner known as Australian English. In fact, 80 % of the inhabitants speak English language all over the continent. Other most common languages spoken in the continent are Chinese, Italian and Greek . However there were between 200 and 300 Australian aboriginal languages when the European settlers set their foot on the Australian soil for the first time. Only about 70 of these languages have survived today among which 20 are now considered as endangered. Auslan the Australian sign language is used for communication by about 6,500 people who have disabilities in hearing and is their principal way of communication.

Independence, Republic and Government:

The continent of Australia was ruled by different European colonizers at different times . From the first days of colonialism it was being ruled by Dutch , British and other chief European powers. However in 1788 , the British Crown Colony of New South Wales started its establishment of a settlement at Port Jackson. This was followed by other navigators to capture different areas for setting up settler colonies. Australia got back its independence from the United Kingdom in 1901.

Australia has a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system of government. Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of Australia who is represented by the Governor-General at Federal level and by the Governors at State level. The Australian government has three branches :

• The legislature : It is comprised of the Commonwealth Parliament, the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.

• The executive : It has the Federal Executive Council that comprises the Governor-General , the Prime Minister and Ministers of State.

• The judiciary : This division comprises the High Court of Australia and other federal courts.

• Adelaide: It is an old city that has a juxtaposition of old churches and nightclubs and pubs. Adelaide the fifth largest city of Australia,is the capital city of South Australia.

• Brisbane: It is the capital city of the Australian state Queensland. It is also the continent's third largest city. The city has hosted several international events including the 1982 Commonwealth Games and Expo 88.

• Canberra: It is the capital of Australia and the city has a population of over 332,000. It is Australia's largest inland city. The city is an official hub and is the home to the new Parliament House.

• Melbourne:It is the continent's second largest city . It has a cosmopolitan crowd but is suburban. It is considered as one of the most civilized cities and has a craze for football .The city has a vibrant nightlife.

• Sydney: It is the continent's premiere city and has hosted the Olympic games in 2000. It is the economic nerve center of the continent. Other renowned cities of Australia are Darwin, Hobart and Perth .

Culture and Heritage:

Australia has its unique cultural heritage that has evolved from the indigenous past but over the past 50 years, Australian culture has been strongly influenced by American popular culture. This is because of the continuous influx of the English speaking European neighbors and the Americans. Apart from this there is also penetration of the non English speaking people from the Asian countries.

Australian music, literature, visual arts , films, operas, visual arts and crafts have universal recognition. The aboriginal culture rich with folk and oral forms of social entertainment has blended with the western world's popular culture and the combination has given rise to a distinctive culture in Australia.

Sport is an integral part of Australian culture because of a pleasant climate that favors outdoor playing of outdoor games. At an international level, Australia has particularly strong teams in cricket, hockey, netball and rugby. Other popular sports include cycling, rowing , swimming , football, horse racing, soccer and motor racing. Australia has hosted the major international event of hosting the 2000 Olympic games and every year it hosts the Australian Grand Slam – one of the Grand Slams of the international Tennis tournament. It holds the Formula One Australian Grand Prix.

Tourism

Australia has diverse tourist spots . The Great Barrier Reef that has more than 1,000 islands off the far north coast of Queensland, offers dazzling coral displays. Visitor's can also enjoy the serenity of pristine white beaches, crystal blue water and warm, lazy days. Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge are special attraction for tourists. Kangaroo island near the tip of South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula is the third largest island of Australia. It is the abode of rare animals such as sea lions, penguins, dolphins, koalas and kangaroos. Besides the Pinnacles and the Bungles are some of the continent's amazing features . The Uluru, also known as Ayer's rocks also have a magnetic charm and is a World Heritage Site.

Apart from the wilderness the shopping culture, Australian delicacies and the splendid nightlife in the cities attract tourists from far and beyond. Australia is a continent of contrasts and contradictions. The indigenous traditions though some have been erased reside hand in hand with the popular culture. There is an earnest endeavor to protect the endangered tradition as well as there is a welcome for the dazzling technology. Wilderness and cosmopolitan cities maintain a balance between civilization and wild life. Hence of you visit Australia you can feel the different strings of life running through the continent.

For more information on Australia and its major cities click countriesandcapitals.