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Discount hotels travel guide for worldwide travel
Travel guide
Australia, the "Land Down Under," include
six states, two mainland territories and a few island territories. It's a fascinating land with many geographical
definitions. Australia is massive, and very
sparsely peopled: in size it rivals the Usa, yet
its population is just under twenty million. It is an ancient land, and often looks it: in places, it's the most
eroded, denuded and driest of continents, with much of central and western Australia - the bulk of the country - overwhelmingly
arid and flat. For and average foreigner, Australia is a vibrant mix of modern skyscrapers cities surrounded by the
nearby subtropical forests, diverse wildlife, and long golden beaches.
The most memorable scenery is in the aforementioned Outback, the vast desert in the interior of the country west of the Great Dividing Range. Here, vivid blue skies, cinnamon-red earth, deserted gorges and other striking geological features as well as bizarre wildlife comprise a unique ecology - one that has played host to the oldest surviving human culture. Australia's biggest attraction is its natural beauty. The landscape varies from endless sun-baked horizons to dense tropical rainforest to chilly southern beaches. Scattered along the coasts, its cities blend a European enthusiasm for art and food with a laid-back love of sport and the outdoors. While visitors might eventually find this Home and Away lifestyle rather prosaic, there are opportunities - particularly in the Northern Territory - to gain some experience of Australia's indigenous peoples and their culture, through visiting ancient art sites, taking tours and, less easily, making personal contact. Many Aboriginal people - especially in central Australia - have managed to maintain a traditional lifestyle (albeit with some modern accoutrements), speaking their own languages and living according to their law.
Area: 7,617,930 sq km (2,941,285 sq miles)
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