The Commonwealth of Australia
Geography: The name comes from the Latin Terra Australis meaning a southern land. Australia is a continent lying between the Pacific and the Indian oceans. It consists of 6 states and 2 territories. The area of the country is approximately 7.7 million km2, with about 23 million inhabitants.
Vast areas of interior Australia are only sparsely inhabited because they are made up of desert or the outback (arid regions). The highest peak is Mt Kosciuszko (2,228m) in the Australian Alps, named after Polish military leader Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who fought in the American War of Independence.
Australia’s nature had been untouched by human civilization for a long time due to the country’s isolation from other continents. That’s why there are many animals (e.g. koala, dingo, wombat, echidna, or platypus) that are endemic. Koalas are marsupials; their main food is eucalyptus leaves, and because of their slow metabolism, they spend up to 18 hours a day sleeping.
The kiwi is a bird with the same name as a fruit, and it cannot fly. The kangaroo is the symbol of Australia, and its babies are called joeys.
Original inhabitants: The native inhabitants are called Aborigines. Their history begins approximately 50,000 years before European settlement. After British colonization, Aborigines were forced to change their way of life and were driven off their traditional land. Due to European diseases, their population declined rapidly.
History: Australia was discovered by a British explorer, Captain James Cook, who landed in 1770 at Botany Bay. In 1788, a fleet of ships brought the first settlers and convicts from England. The colony was called New South Wales and for almost 100 years served as a British convict colony. In the middle of the 19th century, the discovery of gold attracted many immigrants, and the population increased rapidly. In 1901, Australia became an independent dominion within the British Empire (known as the Commonwealth of Australia).
Political system: The head of state is the British sovereign – Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor-General.
Flag: The national flag consists of the British flag on a large blue field in which five stars are arranged in the form of the Southern Cross constellation. The large white 7-pointed star under the British Union Jack symbolizes the six Australian states (6 points), while the seventh point represents Australian territories.
Places of interest:
- Canberra – was chosen as the capital of Australia to reach a compromise between the disputing cities, Sydney and Melbourne.
- Sydney – is the largest city in Australia. The best-known sites include Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
- Melbourne – is the second largest city in Australia. The Australian Open is held there every year.
- Ayers Rock (Uluru) – one of the most famous natural sites in Australia, it seems to become red, especially at dawn and sunset.
- Great Barrier Reef – being over 2,000km long, it is the world’s largest coral reef system.
New Zealand
Geography: New Zealand consists of 2 large islands – North Island and South Island in the Pacific Ocean. The highest point is Mount Cook, 3724m high, lying on the Southern Alps.
Population: The population is about 4.5 million inhabitants. The original inhabitants are the Maori. As in Australia, the arrival of Europeans had devastating consequences for the Maori. Since the 1960s, there has been a revival of Maori culture; Maori is also an official language of New Zealand (apart from English).
History: The first European to have reached New Zealand was a Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman, in 1642. In 1907, New Zealand became a dominion within the British Empire.
Political system: The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor-General.
Flag: The flag consists of the British Union Jack in the left upper corner and four red stars representing the Southern Cross.
Places of interest:
The capital of New Zealand is Wellington. The largest city is Auckland.
Canada
Geography: Canada is the second largest country in the world. Its area is almost 10 million sq km. It borders the USA in the south; in the north, there is the Arctic Ocean; in the west, the Pacific Ocean; and in the east, the Atlantic Ocean. The highest mountain is Mount Logan (5,959 m). The longest river is the Mackenzie River.
Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories. The largest province is Quebec.
Population: The population is 36 million inhabitants. However, the country is not densely populated. The density of its population is only 3.5 people per square kilometer. Most inhabitants are concentrated near the border with the USA. There are three indigenous nations in Canada – First Nations (Indians), Inuits, and Metis.
History: The name Canada comes from the Iroquoian word “kanata” meaning settlement or village. The first Europeans were the Norsemen, arriving in Newfoundland around 1000 AD. In the 15th century, an Italian sailor John Cabot explored the coast of Canada and claimed it for England. In 1867, the Dominion of Canada was established.
Political system: Canada is a constitutional monarchy. The official head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor-General.
Flag: The flag consists of a red field with a white square in the center. On the square, there is a red maple leaf – a symbol of Canada since the 1700s.
Places of interest:
Ottawa – the capital city. Quebec – one of the oldest cities in North America; about 95% of Quebecers (the Québécois) speak French as their mother tongue. Toronto – the largest city in Canada, home to the famous CN Tower. Vancouver – in 2010, it was the host city for the Winter Olympics. Montreal. Niagara Falls – on the border with the USA. Banff National Park – with numerous glaciers, ice fields, and coniferous forests.
Ireland
Capital city: Dublin. Inhabitants: 4 million. It is divided into two major political units – Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. The longest river is the Shannon. The climate is mild, with frequent rains responsible for the brilliant green grass of the „Emerald Isle“.
Political system: The Republic of Ireland is divided into 26 counties. It has a Parliament consisting of an upper house (Senate) and a lower house (House of Representatives). The head of government is the prime minister, and the chief of state is the president. Since 1973, Ireland has been a member of the EU. The six counties of Northern Ireland are ruled from London.
People and culture: Although Irish Gaelic is the official first language and a compulsory subject in schools, English is the language used in everyday life. Ireland is the homeland of writers such as Jonathan Swift, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, and W. B. Yeats. Traditional Irish music is popular worldwide.
Economy: Agriculture is still important, although it employs a small percentage of the population. Ireland is one of the largest exporters of beef and dairy products in the EU. Another source of income is tourism.