Overview
Australia is the smallest of the seven continents and the world's largest island, covering approximately 7.7 million square kilometers. Often considered part of the broader Oceania region, the continent is dominated by the country of Australia, which includes the mainland and the island of Tasmania.
Geography and Physical Features
Much of Australia consists of arid and semi-arid land known as the Outback, including expansive deserts such as the Great Victoria and Great Sandy. The Great Dividing Range runs along the eastern coast, and Mount Kosciuszko, at 2,228 meters, is the continent's highest peak. The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 2,300 kilometers off the northeast coast.
Significance
Australia is renowned for its biological isolation, which has produced highly distinctive flora and fauna, including marsupials such as kangaroos and koalas, and the egg-laying platypus. Indigenous Australians have inhabited the continent for at least 65,000 years, making theirs one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth.
Notable Facts
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system and is visible from space. Australia is home to more than 140 species of marsupials. Uluru, a massive sandstone monolith in the central desert, is one of the most iconic natural landmarks of the continent.