There are about 92 recorded religious beliefs in Australia. Christians predominate (over 70% of the total population), including Catholics – 27%, Anglicans and representatives of other Protestant religions – 22% each.
Plant and Animal World in Australia
The nature of Australia is exceptionally diverse. It is very contrasting in transitions from the desert region to more fertile and water-rich regions. The interior of Australia is occupied by deserts. These are the Great Sandy Desert, the Great Victoria Desert, the Gibson Desert. In the North, East, South-West, deserts turn into savannahs, which are replaced by forests of eucalyptus, palm trees, and tree ferns. The healing power of eucalyptus forests is known all over the world. The animal world is quite diverse, some species of animals are characteristic only for Australia – for example, a koala bear, a kangaroo, an ostrich. In deserts and arid regions, dense, almost impenetrable thickets of shrubs (“scrub”) grow.
In the zone of greater moisture, evergreen tropical forests of powerful tall trees are common – eucalyptus (over 500 species), ficuses, palms, pandanus and others.
The fauna of the country is also specific. The most famous oviparous are the platypus and the echidna. Most mammals belong to marsupials (about 120 species): kangaroos, martens, squirrels, tiny desert mice. The marsupial bear cub koala serves as a decoration of the animal world of the country. There are wombat, wild dog dingo, numerous species of lizards, snakes, crocodiles, river and sea turtles. The world of birds is diverse: out of 700 species, about 500 are considered endemic. The most famous are emu ostrich (flightless), kookaburra, cockatoo parrots, birds of paradise, cassowaries, black swans.
Of particular note is the wealth of underwater fauna and flora off the coast of the Great Barrier Reef – making Australia a paradise for diving enthusiasts. However, among the wide variety of ichthyofauna, sharks occupy a special place here, which should be borne in mind by all divers heading here.
Minerals in Australia
Australia, due to its vast territory and the antiquity of the rocks that make up the continent, is very rich in minerals. Recently discovered deposits of mineral ores made on the continent over the past 10-15 years have pushed the country to one of the first places in the world in terms of reserves and extraction of such minerals as iron ore, bauxite and lead-zinc ores.
The main gold reserves are concentrated in the ledges of the Precambrian basement in the southwest of the mainland (Western Australia). Smaller deposits are found in almost all states.
Unlike Russia, in Australia, ore minerals (gold, non-ferrous metals, iron ore, uranium ore) prevail over non-metallic ones (oil, natural gas, etc.). The reason for this lies in the nature of the crystalline rocks that make up the mainland.
However, this does not mean that the country lacks non-metallic minerals. Thus, Australia is rich in coal, the deposits of which are found mainly in the southeast of the mainland in sedimentary rocks. The largest deposits of both coking and non-coking hard coal are being developed in New South Wales and Queensland.
Geologists have established that there are large deposits of oil and natural gas in the bowels of the Australian mainland and on the shelf off its coast. Oil is found and produced in the state of Queensland, on the island of Barrow off the northwestern coast of the mainland, as well as on the continental shelf off the southern coast of Victoria. There are also large deposits of natural gas.
It is also worth noting that among non-metallic minerals there are clays, sands, limestones, asbestos, as well as mica and various building materials of different quality and industrial use.
Banks in Australia
The main banks in Australia are ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Westpac. These banks are open from Monday to Friday, from 09.30 to 16.30. Saturday until noon, St. George Bank or exchange offices.
Credit cards are accepted for payment in Australia: VISA, Mastercard, Bankcard, American Express, Diners Club, however, it should be borne in mind that in rural areas it is not always possible to use this method of payment.
Import of foreign and national currency is not limited. Export of foreign and national currency – no more than 5000 USD. Other currencies in cash in Australia do not have circulation and are not accepted for payment. Foreign currency cash and traveler’s checks can be exchanged for Australian dollars at all international banks and airports.
Money in Australia
The Australian currency is the Australian dollar (A$, AUD), and cents serve as a bargaining chip. There are 5 banknotes in circulation worth $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and 6 coins worth 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2.
Rate: 1 Australian Dollar (AUD) = 0.71 USD (28.05.2022)
Political State in Australia
According to politicsezine, Australia is a federal independent state that is part of the Commonwealth of Nations. On July 9, 1900, the British Parliament passed an act creating the Commonwealth of Australia. The head of state is formally the Queen of England (who bears the title of Queen of Australia in the country), represented by the Governor General, who is appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia for 5 years (in addition, in each state, the queen is represented by the state governor). The legislature is a bicameral federal parliament elected by universal mandatory (for non-participation – a fine) vote, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The party that received the majority in the elections to the House of Representatives forms the government, and its leader becomes the prime minister – the head of the executive branch.
Population in Australia
According to information for 1998, the population of Australia is about 19 million people, 88% of which are urban residents. The ethnic composition of the population is diverse: Australians make up 82%, British – 7.2%, Italians – 2%, Greeks – 1.2%, Aborigines – 1%.
Language:
The official language of Australia is English. At the same time, more than 40 other languages and dialects are recognized and used in communication (Italian, Greek, German, Chinese, dialects of the indigenous population, etc.)
Cuisine in Australia
Talking about local Australian cuisine is not easy: like the country itself, it is still very young and in its infancy. Here, with equal success, they prepare not only exotic dishes of the natives, but also food traditional for the Old World. In Australian restaurants, you can try kangaroo tail soup, crocodile steak or ostrich egg scrambled eggs. Actually, this is exotic only for us – the indigenous people of Australia are simply used to cooking from what they have “at hand”, as well as all over the world. Aborigines also often consume ostrich meat. According to some gourmets, it is very reminiscent of rabbit meat. By the way, all kinds of dishes from the rabbit, which is considered the number one enemy for farmers in Australia, are also very common and popular here. The rabbit is boiled and stewed, fried and stewed in sour cream.
