The population of 25000 000 people live heavily concentraded on the east coast and more than 70 % oft he inhabitants live in cities on the coast. Many people live there because the desert is very hot and dry and there are not many job options.

Australia has also got ist natives, they are called Aborigines. Aborigines live in Australia since 60.000 years. They came all the way from Asia to Australia. At this time they were able to walk because the sea level was so low, so that Australia wasn´t an island. Many aborigines who live in Australia are still telling dreamtime stories about their ancestors. Dreamtime stories are stories which are told and retold from generation to genereation so they will never be forgotten.

Australia is divided into six states and two terretories: Western Australia, which is the biggest state, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania which ist he smalles state and the two territories which are the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

Australia has also got beautiful cities. Many people think that the capital of Australia is Sydney but that´s not true, it´s actually Canberra. Canberra is Australia´s capital and seat oft he government. Canberra is not the biggest city in Australia. It lies inland and was entirely planned. Sydney however, is the largest city. It lies on the east coast. It is an interesting fact that Sydney frequently ranks in the top ten most livable cities in the world. But Sydney is not the only big city in Australia, there is also Brisbane, the capital city oft he state Queensland, Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, Adelaide, the capital city oft he Northern Territory. Hobart ist he capital city of Tasmania which is an island in the south of Australia and Perth ist he capital city of Western Australia.

Australians speak English, but not normal English, they speak Australian English, which is a variety with a heavy accent and some different vocabulary. In Australian English the word „kangaroo“ means „bouncy mouce“ and „stop“ means „digeri – don´t“.

Australia´s landscape is really impressing. There are deserts where it is really hot and there are also cities, tropical rainforests and coral reefs where you can go scuba diving and swimming. There are even mountain areas where yuo can go skiing in the Australian winter and climbing in the summer. Not to forget to mention: Australia has also got a beautiful coastline with different beaches.

In Australia there are many tourist attractions. The top rated ones are Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, the Ayers Rock, which is also called „Uluru“, the Blue Mountains, Melbourne, Bondi Beach in Sydney, Daintree National, the Devil´s Marbles, King´s Canyon, the Olgas and the Great Ocean Road with the Twelve Apostles.

I absolutely want to explore the Great Barrier Reef because of the thousands of sea animals and because it is also considerate as the largest reef in the world. The Uluru is a big red monotlith which is really important to the Aborigenes. Melbourne and Sydney are also places that I want to visit. Kakadu National Park would also be a nice attraction to see with its many animals and waterfalls. The Olgas, also called Kata Tuja in Aborigene´s language are many mountains next to each other. The Great Ocean Road with its Twelve Apostles is an impressive coastline with many huge rocks in the water.

So altogether I think Australia is a continent for everybody and worth a visit. It is definitely one oft he places I have to visit when I am older and I cannot wait for it!

Text und Bild: Lina Lechner (4b-Klasse)