Australia, the island continent is so diverse geographically that it is home to over 130 species of marsupials, including the kangaroos, koalas and the wombats. Located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Australia's landscape includes the highest mountains that are part of the Great Dividing Range that extends from the east coast from Cape York Peninsula and leads south to the state of Victoria.
The majority of the citizens reside along the southeast coast, in centers like Melbourne or Sydney because rains frequent these areas, leaving the interior beyond the mountains arid or semi-arid. Mostly plains and plateaus make-up the landscape of the west; the Great Artesian Basin supplies underground water to an area that is otherwise classified as desert; vegetation is dense courtesy of rainforests in the far north, to steppes and deserts in the vast interior (called the outback by the Australians).
A British Colony since 1788, Australia was a place of banishment for questionable subjects until its independence in 1901. As a new nation it needed an emblem, so from entries around the world, the ensuing
Australia Flag was chosen and legally recognized. The flag is a blue field with a Union Flag in the canton (upper hoist quadrant), and a seven pointed star - the Commonwealth Star - in the lower hoist quadrant. A representation of the Southern Cross constellation made up of five white stars, complete the ensemble.
Since the discovery of gold in 1851, Australia opened its doors for immigrants. The entry of immigrants into Australia has been the key to its development since 1788 in fact from 1945 through 2000 almost six million immigrants had made the island nation their home.
by:
The Flagman
