Geography and climate

Английский язык

Australia

Методический материал для формирования лингвострановедческой компетенции студентов неязыковых факультетов

Пермь 2010

Составители: преподаватели Катаева Е.Г., Полякова Н.Е.

CONTENT

Geography and climate …………………………………………..4

Australia’s past …………………………………………………..6

National flag of Australia………………………………………...7

Coat of arms…………………………………………………….9

Australia’s floral emblem………………………………………..12

Aboriginal Australia……………………………………………..14

Political system ……………………………………………….....17

Australian cities ………………………………………………… 18

Canberra …………………………………………………………19

Sydney……………………………………………………………21

Melbourne ………………………………………………………. 23

Landmarks ……………………………………………………….25

Australian universities……………………………………………29

Flora and fauna …………………………………………………..31

Festivals and events in Australia…………………………………34

Adventure sports in Australia…………………………………….35

Australian traditions…………………………………………… 38

Eating habits ……………………………………………………..44

What are Australians like? …………………………………….....47

Famous Australians …………………………………………… 48

Steve Irwin ……………………………………………………… 48

Ned Kelly ……………………………………………………… 49

Burke and Wills ……………………………………………….....50

Phar Lap ………………………………………………………….51

Banjo Patterson …………………………………………………..51

Ian Thorpe ………………………………………………………..52

Fan facts about Australia ………………………………………...54

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

Australia is considered to be the smallest of seven continents and the sixth biggest state. For the reason that it lies in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons are the contrary of those in the northern part of the world. Australia is situated among the South Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. It is made up of two islands. Australia is extremely close to other island nations. To the north are: Papa New Guinea, Indonesia and part of Malaysia. Additional to the north are the Philippines and Asian mainland. Southeast of Australia is called New Zealand. Like Australia, it was once a British settlement. At last, to the south is the frozen continent of Antarctica. Nearly half of Australia-the northern part of the county is situated in the earth's hot zone. Australia's tropical area is warm to hot during the whole year. Australia is the most droughty continent on the earth. About one half of its territory is occupied by deserts and semideserts. Most of them lie in the central and north-western part of the country. The Great Victoria Desert is the largest in Australia and the third largest in the world. The inland deserts can remain totally dry for years whilst rains can produce floods.

It is also the land of great plains. Only 6 percent of the island continent is above 2, 000 feet (600 metres) in elevation. Its highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko, rises to only 7, 310 feet (2, 228 metres). Other rock structures in Australia are Uluru, Mount Augustus and Bald Rock.