What natural resources do the Australian islands have? Australia
Tourists from all over the world come to this sunny continent in search of a dream, because Australia is so unlike any other country in the world. This ancient land has preserved all its natural pristineness, combining it with the latest inventions of mankind. Holidays in Australia are an unusual adventure that you will remember for a lifetime.
When is the best time to go to Australia?
At any time of the year, tourists in Australia will find a lot of entertainment and see the amazing wealth of the country, its attractions and natural beauty. It is worth taking into account seasonality so that your vacation is as comfortable as possible and fully meets your expectations.
If you prefer an organized vacation, you can purchase a tour to Australia right now, in which case your trip to this continent will be safe, carefree and interesting. They will plan your travel route for you and you will be able to see many unusual places in a short time, and there is a lot to see and someone to see in Australia.
The uniqueness of this area is due to its significant distance from all other continents. The territory of Australia is huge; several climatic zones connect here, bringing their own characteristics to the weather conditions. When choosing a time to relax, keep in mind that our winter is the Australian summer, and the long-awaited summer months in Russia coincide with the winter season in the country of kangaroos and eternal sun. However, you won’t feel much of a difference between the seasons; you just have to take into account some nuances.
Australian summers are very hot. At this time of year, it is preferable to relax on the sea coast, indulging in blissful bliss, and not plan active excursion pilgrimages.
The spring change of seasons is characterized by rain in Sydney and fairly dry coolness in Melbourne. This is an excellent time for an excursion to explore the central part of the mainland, its deserts and national parks.
Summer offers an excellent opportunity to visit the southern ski resorts of the continent. Those who love contrasting sensations will really enjoy it if, after spending a few days on the snow-capped peaks of Threadboy or Perisher Blue, they go for a change of scenery to the tropical atmosphere of the northern coast.
Australian autumn is beautiful and long-awaited, like spring in Russia. The climate is softening throughout the continental territory, opening up a full range of tourism opportunities for guests.
Why Australia is attractive to tourists
Tourists from all over the world, with different preferences and ideas for their ideal holiday, will find something to their liking in Australia.
Surfing fans come to the continent for a unique opportunity to ride the waves of two oceans at once - the Pacific and Indian. The abundance of beaches lapped by majestic waters has earned Australia the unspoken title of second home to surfers, and Snapper Rocks boasts the world's longest waves.
Even if you have never been diving, here you will not be able to resist the temptation to plunge into the magical, exciting world of the underwater kingdom. Nowhere else will you see such abundance and the special fabulous life of marine flora and fauna: millions of fish of various and bizarre shapes, stingrays, turtles, octopuses, moray eels and many more representatives of the aquatic expanses.
A country of contrasts, an ancient continent where modern megacities coexist with endless expanses of national parks that have preserved all the riot of natural colors, unknown vegetation, places inhabited by unprecedented animals. The only species preserved on earth live here: platypuses, koalas, emus, and kangaroos. Diverse and different, like the mainland itself, national parks are included in the UNESCO heritage list: Blue Mountains, Cockatoo, Namadgi, Daintree, Canberra, Black Mountain, Eucalyptus Grove.
The unique and majestic architecture of Australian cities will leave an indelible impression. Recognized monuments of world significance: in Sydney - the Opera House, the famous Harbor Bridge, giant aquariums and neighborhoods that have preserved the solemnity of Victorian architecture; in Melbourne - Federation Square, Royal Garden, gloomy Old Gaol; in Canberra - the quaint Houses of Parliament, Black Mountain Hill, and the National Gallery of Art. A huge collection of inspiring cultural experiences awaits visitors to the sunny continent who decide to explore the countless attractions of Australian cities.
Top 10 must-see places in Australia
To visit and see all the riches that this country offers to its guests, you need to come here again and again. Australia is so abundant in natural colors, terrestrial and underwater fauna, ancient monuments and architectural heritage, cultural and modern attractions that in one trip it is only possible to touch its riches.
Its most famous attractions will help you get a general impression of the unusual world of the continent:
- The Sydney Opera House attracts everyone's attention like a magnet
coming to this city. A huge complex with many halls, restaurants, shops, which can host up to 5 performances at the same time, took 14 years to build. Today the building, striking with its unusual beauty and majesty, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. - The Harbor Bridge is Sydney's main bridge, 1,149 meters long.
Local residents call it a hanger, and the whole world in admiration gives it second place among the largest arched bridges on the planet. - Blue Mountains - picturesque National Park, world heritage
UNESCO. The peaks of the mountain range, covered with tropical thickets of huge blue eucalyptus trees and tree ferns, are shrouded in a blue haze created by the refraction of the sun's rays in droplets of eucalyptus oil secreted by the plants. - The Pinnacle Desert attracts travelers from all over the world
mystical landscapes, unusual creations of natural fantasy. - Tasmania's rainforests, called the lungs of the planet, are...
a huge expanse of untouched evergreen forests that have preserved their original appearance for ancient millennia. - Lake Hiller, filled with bright pink waters and surrounded by
a white strip of salt and green eucalyptus thickets - another wonder of the world that Australia is rich in. - Fort Denison - Sydney's historical heritage, serfs
buildings reminiscent of the city’s heroic past. - King's Canyon is a sacred Aboriginal land and place
pilgrimages of modern tourists. - Mount Uluru is an ancient sacred place covered in legends,
having the amazing ability to change color during the day thanks to the red sandstone it contains. - Glowing Lake Gypsumland is a favorite place among tourists, its waters
have the magical ability to glow at night with a blue neon flame.
Australia is an amazing continent that never ceases to amaze tourists
all over the world. It is here that ancient natural monuments, rare animals and plants have been preserved, closely intertwined with modern art. It’s worth seeing Australia at least once, but a lifetime is not enough to explore it.
Since ancient times, people have flocked to Australia in search of gold and for the rich pastures where they raised huge numbers of livestock. Modern research has shown that the continent has a huge amount of reserves of different types of minerals.
Australia now ranks first in the world in the production of iron ore, bauxite, lead and zinc, 2nd in uranium mining (after Canada), and 6th in coal mining.
Relief features of Australia
In ancient times, Australia was an integral part of Gondwana, one of the two largest continents. Australia broke away around the end of the Mesozoic era, and now most of the continent rests on an ancient platform. Therefore, the relief of Australia is dominated by plains, where the richest deposits of sedimentary rocks are located. About 95% of the country's territory does not rise above 600 m above sea level.
A narrow strip of plateau stretches along the western coast. These are the Western Australian Plateau (average heights - 200 m) and the MacDonnell Range (with the highest peak of Zyl - 1511 m). There are deposits of oil, gas, iron ore, bauxite, titanium, and gold here.
The center of the continent is dominated by lowlands. The lowest point in Australia is recorded in the Lakes Eyre region - minus 16 m from sea level. Copper, manganese, and opals are mined in this area.
In the east of the continent there is the Great Dividing Range - these are high mountains with steep slopes, mainly of volcanic origin, made of limestone, granite and volcanic rocks. This mountain system stores considerable reserves of hard and brown coal, rich deposits of oil and gas, tin, gold, and copper. The highest peak of the continent is located here - Mount Kosciuszko (2228 m). The largest Australian rivers, the Murray and Darling, originate on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range.
Types of minerals
Iron ore- a mineral formation containing large amounts of iron. In terms of iron ore production, Australia, together with Brazil and China, provides 2/3 of world production. The largest deposits have been discovered in the north-west of the mainland - these are the Mount Newman and Mount Goldsworth basins. Ore is also mined in South Australia (the largest deposit is Iron Knob). The Australian company BHP Billiton is one of the world's three largest concerns for the production of iron ore raw materials. This concern alone provides the world with about 188 million tons of ore. Currently, Australia is also the world's largest exporter of ore. Each year, more than 30% of world exports come from this country.
Bauxite- a complex rock from which aluminum is mined. Australia ranks second in the world in terms of bauxite deposits, second only to Guinea. According to experts, more than 7 billion tons of valuable ore are stored on the southern continent, which amounts to almost 26% of the world reserve. In Australia, bauxite is found in mountainous areas. The largest deposits: Weipa (Cape York), Gov (Arnhem Land), Jarrahdale (on the slopes of the Darling Range).
Polymetals- complex ore containing a whole set of chemical elements, of which the most important are zinc, lead, copper, silver and gold. Large deposits of polymetallic ores have been discovered in New South Wales (Broken Hill deposit), in Queensland (Mount Is deposit) and in the north of Australia (Tennant Creek deposit).
Gold- a valuable metal that has found application not only in jewelry, but also in electronics, the nuclear industry, and medicine. Australia ranks 4th in the world in gold production. More than 225 tons are mined here every year. The main gold deposits are concentrated in the southwest of the mainland - in the state of Western Australia. The largest mines are located near the cities of Kalgoorlie, Wiloon and in Queensland.
Coal- the most important type of fuel of organic origin. According to experts, almost 9% of the world's coal reserves are concentrated in Australia - that's more than 76.4 billion tons. The main coal basins are located in eastern Australia. The largest deposits are in the states of New South Wales and Queensland.
Oil and natural gas- valuable fuel resources, of which Australia does not have many (compared to other countries, and even more so continents). The main deposits of oil and gas were discovered on the shelf near the coast. The largest oil fields are: Mooney, Alton, Bennett (Queensland), Kingfish (Victoria) and on Barrow Island. The largest gas field is Ranken.
Chromium- a metal used in heavy industry. Rich deposits of chromium have been discovered in Australia. Large deposits: Gingin, Dongarra (Western Australia), Marlin (Victoria).
By production diamonds and opals Australia ranks first in the world. The largest diamond deposit is located in the area of Lake Argyle. And most of the opals (2/3) are found in South Australia. The unusual underground city of Coober Pedy is also located here, which is often called the opal capital of the world. Most of the housing in the city is located in underground mines.
Resources and deposits
Mineral resources. Australia is one of the world's five largest suppliers of mineral raw materials. The mining industry provides a third of the country's total industrial output. Australia's mineral raw materials are exported to more than 100 countries.
Water and forest resources Australia is small. In terms of water supplies, it is the poorest continent on earth. There are few rivers, and 90% of rivers dry up during the dry season. Only the Murray and its tributary, the Murrumbidgee, maintain a constant flow throughout the year. The main forest areas are located in the east and west of the continent. Thickets of eucalyptus trees are especially valued.
Land resources Australia is vast, but almost 44% of the continent is desert. However, semi-deserts and steppes are used for extensive pastures. Sheep breeding is very developed, which is often called the “business card” of the Australian economy. The country occupies a leading position in the world in the production of meat and butter.
Fertile soils are located in steppe regions. They grow mainly wheat. Rich harvests of sugar cane, tobacco, and cotton are also harvested. Recently, winemaking and viticulture have been increasingly developed.
It is the largest country in the world and occupies about 5% of the planet’s land area or 7.69 million km². It is washed by the waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Australia has many natural resources, but the most economically important are minerals, which are exported to other countries around the world and provide significant economic benefits.
Water resources
Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth, with one of the world's highest levels of water consumption. mainly represented by surface water in the form of rivers, lakes, reservoirs, dams and rainwater reservoirs, as well as underground aquifers. As an island continent, Australia is entirely dependent on precipitation (rain and snow) for its water supply. Artificial reservoirs are critical to maintaining water supplies on the mainland.
Among OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, Australia ranks fourth in terms of water consumption per capita. The total annual water flow is about 243 billion m³ and the total groundwater recharge is 49 billion m³, giving a total water resource inflow of 292 billion m³. Only 6% of Australia's water flow is in the Murray-Darling Basin, where water use is 50%. The total capacity of Australia's major dams is approximately 84 billion m³.
In Australia, it is common to use reclaimed water (treated wastewater that is not potable and intended for industrial reuse) for irrigation of green spaces, golf courses, crops or industrial use.
Forest resources
Australia is diverse and contains some of the continent's most important natural resources.
Australia has many forests, despite being considered one of the driest continents. The mainland contains approximately 149.3 million hectares of natural forest, representing approximately 19.3% of Australia's land area. Most trees in Australia are deciduous trees, usually eucalyptus. Of these, 3.4% (5.07 million hectares) are classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-rich.
Australia's natural forests occur across a wide range of geographical landscapes and climates, and contain a wide range of predominantly endemic species (ie species that are found nowhere else) that form unique and complex forests. Forests provide a range of timber and non-timber products that Australians use in their daily lives. They also ensure clean water, protect soils, provide opportunities for recreation, tourism, as well as scientific and educational activities, and maintain cultural, historical, and aesthetic values.
The continent's timber industry has benefited from the development of tree plantations, which produce 14 times more timber per hectare of land than natural forests. Currently, plantations provide more than two-thirds of Australia's timber. These areas are dominated by fast-growing tree species such as eucalyptus and radiata pine. The main types of forest products are lumber, wood-based panels, paper and wood chips.
Mineral resources
Australia is among the world's largest mineral producers. The most important of the continent are bauxite, gold and iron ore. Other mineral resources on the mainland include copper, lead, zinc, diamonds and mineral sands. Most mineral resources are mined in Western Australia and Queensland. Many minerals mined in Australia are exported overseas.
Australia has extensive coal deposits. It is mainly found in the eastern part of the country. 2/3 of Australian coal is exported mainly to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Western Europe. The rest of the coal mined in Australia is burned to produce electricity.
Natural gas is also common in the country. Its reserves are mainly found in Western and Central Australia. Because most of these deposits are located away from urban centers, pipelines have been built to transport natural gas to cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. Part of the natural gas is exported. For example, natural gas produced in Western Australia is exported directly to Japan in liquid form.
Australia also contains a third of the world's uranium reserves. Uranium is used to produce nuclear energy. However, nuclear power and uranium mining are highly controversial as people are concerned about the harmful effects on the environment due to its radioactive properties.
Land resources
Land use has a significant impact on Australia's natural resources through its effects on water, soil, nutrients, plants and animals. There is also a strong link between changing land use patterns and economic and social conditions, particularly in regional Australia. Land use information shows how land is used, including production of products (such as crops,
timber, etc.) and measures to protect land, protect biodiversity, and natural resources.
The total area of agricultural land is 53.4%, of which: arable land - 6.2%, permanent crops - 0.1%, permanent pastures - 47.1%.
About 7% of Australia's land resources are dedicated to nature conservation. Other protected areas, including indigenous lands, cover more than 13% of the country.
Forestry tends to be limited to higher rainfall regions of Australia, covering almost 19.3% of the continent. The lands of settlements (mostly urban) occupy about 0.2% of the country's area. Other land uses account for 7.1%.
Biological resources
Livestock
Livestock farming is one of Australia's leading agricultural sectors. In terms of sheep population, the country ranks first in the world, and in some years it produces more than 1/4 of the world's wool production. Cattle are also raised throughout the country, and by-products include meat, milk, butter, cheese, etc. exported to other countries and generates a total income of more than 700 million US dollars per year, with Indonesia being the largest consumer of meat.
Crop production
Australia is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of grain crops. The most important crop grown is wheat, the sown area of which exceeds 11 million hectares. Other Australian crops include barley, corn, sorghum, triticale, peanuts, sunflowers, safflower, canola, canola, soybeans and others.
Sugar cane, bananas, pineapples (mainly the state of Queensland), citrus fruits (the states of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales), etc. are also grown in the country.
Flora and fauna
The flora and fauna of Australia are the plants and animals that live on its territory. The flora and fauna of Australia is unique and significantly different from the wildlife of other continents.
About 80% of Australian plant species are found only on this continent. Native plants include: eucalyptus, casuarina, acacia, spinfex grass and flowering plants including banksia and anigozanthos, etc.
Australia has many unique animals. Of Australia's native animal species: 71% of mammals and birds, 88% of reptile species and 94% of amphibian species are endemic. About 10% of our planet's biodiversity is found here.
Brief information about the country
The Commonwealth of Australia is the youngest country in the world, occupying the entire area of the oldest continent on the planet. The form of government is a federal constitutional monarchy, headed by the English monarch.
Comparable in area to Europe, it is the least populated part of the world, there are 2.5 people per 1 square kilometer, and a total of 19 million people per 7,686,850 km 2.
This highly urbanized country, where more than 80% of the population lives in large cities, at the same time maintains a unique balance between man and nature. Megacities have merged with the surrounding bush (shrub area) and its inhabitants, and local residents are very careful about the surrounding nature, literally considering it native. Colorful parrots, bats and huge insects flit around in abundance in the heart of Sydney, and a sign at the entrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens reads: "Please walk on the grass! Smell the flowers! Hug the trees and talk to the birds!" Animals reciprocate with people: twenty million people and forty million kangaroos coexist in complete harmony...
History of development
The first Europeans to discover this continent at the beginning of the 17th century were the Dutch navigators Willem Jantz (1605) and Abel Tasman (1642), who named it New Holland. The continent began to be called Australia, that is, the Southern Land, only at the beginning of the 19th century after it was rediscovered by James Cook in 1770 and annexed to the English crown.
England used Australia mainly as a prison, and the majority of its European population were convicts. In the 19th century, free settlers began to appear in Australia, and in 1850 gold deposits were discovered in the country, attracting thousands of emigrants. The Aborigines survived with their lands needed by the colonists for agriculture and mining. The Industrial Revolution in England required large quantities of raw materials, and Australian agricultural and natural resources were expended uncontrollably to meet this need.
Australia became a state when the individual colonies formed a federation on 1 January 1901 (although this severed many cultural and trade ties with England). Australian troops fought on the British side in the Boer War, World War I and World War II. However, the US role in defending Australian territories from Japanese invasion during World War II called into question the strength of this alliance. Australia in turn supported the United States during the Korean and Vietnam Wars in Asia.
Australia's natural resources
Nature and climate
Vast uninhabited territories are home to the most ancient mammals, almost unchanged over millions of years - marsupials, in addition, only here live the platypus and echidna and many birds: emu, cockatoo and kookaburra. Wild jungle surrounds the coastal areas, and penguins and seals swim here from Antarctica at the capes on the southern tip of the continent... Approximately 85% of plants, 84% of mammals, 45% of birds, 89% of freshwater fish are endemic.
The Australian continent is located within the three main warm climate zones of the southern hemisphere: subequatorial (in the north), tropical (in the central part) and subtropical (in the south). Only a small part of the island of Tasmania is within the temperate zone. In winter, which occurs in June, July and August, snow sometimes falls, but it does not last long.
National parks, reserves
Australia is a country abounding in the rarest representatives of flora and fauna. The Royal Botanic Gardens display over a million plant specimens; The Sydney Chinese Garden, designed by specialists from Guangdong Province, is the largest traditional garden outside of China; Sydney Aquarium, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world in terms of volume of retained water (over 5,000 sea creatures live in the aquarium).
Great Barrier Reef. Stretching along the north-eastern coast of Australia from Papua New Guinea to the Southern Tropics in the south for 2,500 km, it consists of 2,900 coral reefs and more than 1,000 islands inhabited by unique exotic fish and plants not found anywhere else in the world. On the territory of the national park you can see evergreen forests, trees that are more than 2,000 years old, mountain rivers, waterfalls, eucalyptus groves, and aboriginal trails. Of the 350 species of coral known in the world, 340 are found on the islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
Nambang National Park is located in the middle of a sandy desert 260 km north of Perth. One of the main attractions of the park and the country is the fields of petrified remains of the ancient forest - "Pinnacles".
In the Northern Territories Wildlife Park, along with other representatives of the Australian fauna, you can get acquainted with the legendary Australian giant fish "barramandi".
The Yulara Visitor Center is dedicated to the geology, history and nature of the region, with a unique display of stunning photographs. The Aboriginal Cultural Center also houses a very interesting exhibition about Aboriginal traditions and art.
Fraser Island. The national park on the island is one of the most exotic places in Australia, represented by ancient rain forests, inland freshwater lakes, lost streams, and unique birds.
The Daintree Nature Reserve covers over 56 hectares of pristine rainforest. Tourist routes include: palm jungles, mangroves (can reach 9 m in height), ferns and orchids; There are crocodiles in the Daintree River. In the thicket of the primeval forest, you can see a glowing green frog with tentacled legs that climbs trees; an opossum gliding from one tree to another or marsupial cats; in April the trees are covered with luminous mushrooms.
Blue Mountains. National Nature Park in New South Wales, located 110 km north-west of Sydney. The mountains are covered with eucalyptus forests. The name of the mountains itself comes from the color of the evaporating eucalyptus oil floating above the forests. The highest point is Mount Victoria (1,111 m).
In Sturt National Park you can see hundreds of red kangaroos grazing on the plains known as Australia's Red Heart.
Ku-Ring-Gai National Park is located on eucalyptus valleys. Within the park's boundaries there are typical Australian farms (homesteads). That is, this is a reserve of European Australians.
Kakadu National Park is located two hours east of Darwin in the Northern Territory. This is Australia's largest national park - its area is 19,000 sq. km. The natural border of the park is steep cliffs with a height of 100 to 200 m. The internal swampy part of the Kakadu Valley is protected from storms by powerful tropical forests, where saltwater crocodiles live. The brackish marshes are also inhabited by buffalos, wild boars, monitor lizards and poisonous snakes. This timeless green ocean of Kakadu Valley is surrounded by a barrier of red rocks that stretches to the horizon on all sides. During the monsoon, streams of water flow from the rocks, turning the valley into a lake.
Litchfield National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the Northern Territory. Here you can see numerous waterfalls forming small lakes and pools, palm groves and rain forests with their many and varied inhabitants. Nitmiluk National Park is also located here; Fogg Dam Nature Park, located in a wetland 69 km east of Darwin, is also home to a variety of bird species, just like Kakadu Park.
Unknown Australia
"The World of the First Australians"
Aborigines are people from different tribes, speaking different languages and having different cultures. This is approximately 2.4% of the country's total population. The situation of the Australian Aborigines is very deplorable - they are deprived of their territory, all civil rights, and are simply dying out (there are only 19 thousand of them left).
Scientists believe that the history of their culture is the longest on the planet: it began during the last ice age. Although anthropologists still disagree, it is believed that the first people arrived in Australia from Indonesia approximately 70,000 years ago. Later they were called “robusta” because of their large-boned constitution, and after 20,000 years graceful people appeared, the ancestors of the Australian aborigines.
The level of development of Aboriginal material culture, achieved by the beginning of European colonization of Australia, was high enough for them to exist in the harshest natural conditions of the continent. They adapted to the environment, learned to get food and make tools. At first glance, it may seem that it was their success in providing for their material needs that made their survival possible. And yet, behind this there is something more than the ability to provide oneself with all the essentials of life. One of the main reasons for their survival was their carefully organized social life: the behavior and role of each member of the tribe was strictly regulated by a system of beliefs and subject to unchanging rituals: initiation rites, weddings, hunting rituals, funeral rites...
The concept of “tribe” as applied to the indigenous inhabitants of the fifth continent has its own specifics: its members rarely gathered together, there was no single governing body... all this was replaced by tribal ties.
To understand the structure of Aboriginal society, you first need to be well aware of the specifics and strength of the religious feeling that literally permeates its structures. The influence of religion on the relationship to the land is especially pronounced. Since ancient times, each tribe lived in a certain territory, considering it not only its habitat, but also the refuge of “their” spirits-ancestors. There was no concept of “property” and the land was inherited, or rather, people of another tribe did not lay claim to it. There were no wars for land (compare with the history of the development of European civilization). Today, when the Aborigines are literally being driven out of their ancestral territories for the sake of mining and enriching European Australians, no one thinks that this is destroying the ethnic group!
The essence of Aboriginal religion is totemism. This is a special state of unity when a person can only exist in conjunction with the natural world, with the earth on which he lives.
Every Australian had an animal ancestor, or more precisely, the ancestor was a kind of “superman”, possessing both the essence of both man and animal. A clan group totem is not only a means of protection, but also a materially expressed connection with the spirits of ancestors, with the Eternal Period of Dreams. Some types of totems were inherited. A child could inherit the totem of a ritual group from his father or from his maternal uncle.
The basis of the religious cult of the aborigines was the idea of the “Great Time” when the earth was flat and heroes awakening from sleep laid the foundation for life on earth. This idea lived in legends about the spirits of ancestors, and the details associated with it were the basis of the social structure. Magical power was also personified by objects known as churingi.
Thus, four main aspects of Aboriginal religion can be distinguished: myths, rituals, material objects or emblems; religious centers are areas of land associated with various mythical creatures and totemic ancestors. Myths and rituals are always localized in a certain way.
Aboriginal art
Aboriginal art in Australia is closely related to religion (magic). By creating various objects, they tied the material world even more closely to the world of spirits. The basis of “fine” art was the technique of carving wood, stone, and painting images on trees, rocks, even on the soil. The drawings did not convey an exact resemblance to the original; they were mostly symbols, understandable only to initiates.
Australia is one of the few regions on the planet where, in remote corners, the tradition of rock painting still lingers among local tribes (such examples can be found in Africa). A group of Australian anthropologists could not believe their eyes: having discovered previously unknown Aboriginal rock paintings, they expected to see traditional motifs - hunting scenes, for example. Instead, what appeared before their eyes were fairly accurate images of bicycles, cars, huge and not-so-huge steamships, destroyers, and even a biplane from either the First or Second World War.
People, birds, kangaroos - the drawings discovered this year in the vicinity of Julirri testify to how carefully the indigenous Australians “recorded” the events that happened to them in pictures. Experts call Australia's Aboriginal culture the longest continuous culture in the world.
Orally transmitted traditions did not always have the status of sacred texts. Their plots are similar to the plots of the myths of the peoples of the world: the myth of the flood, the creation of the world, the essence of the sky, stars...
The joy of being was reflected in music and dances called corroboree, which were usually not associated with any rituals and therefore were not constrained by the framework of ritual. These dances depicted scenes from everyday life and enacted entire performances imitating natural phenomena and various events.
Music for both corroboree and ritual was performed using simple means. In some tribes, the rhythm was beaten by simply alternating blows on the thighs, in others, by striking sticks on the ground, sometimes by tapping two boomerangs. Tufts of eucalyptus leaves on the ankles and forearms imitated the rustling of emu feathers. The most characteristic sounds were the monotonous lamentations of the aborigines themselves and the sounds made by the didieridoo, a long pipe made of bamboo or eucalyptus. The trumpet served as a kind of mouthpiece, amplifying the sound of the voice. This instrument was not widely used and was used only in some areas of Northern Australia.
When performing corroboree and performing ritual ceremonies, the Aborigines used various forms of art for self-expression. This increased the emotionality of the performance. The rest of the time people communicated through ordinary speech. The number of spoken languages was enormous and probably reached six hundred. And they all had a common similarity, with the possible exception of a few Tasmanian languages. Australian languages are not related to the spoken languages of peoples of other continents, and this circumstance, as well as the evidence of their ancient origin, makes us think that they arose on the territory of Australia itself. They are distinguished by their richness of semantics, that is, the semantic meanings of words, as well as vocabulary, especially in relation to the surrounding natural world. To understand any of these languages, you need to have a good knowledge of the way of life and way of thinking of the aborigines.
Australia's places of power
The Aborigines of Australia were so closely tied to their territory that they did not own the land, but the land owned them. Ritual centers (most often caves in rock formations) are called “places of power” by modern scientists. They certainly attract lovers of the exotic, although there have been recorded cases where the curiosity of such “researchers” was punished by accidents, unknown diseases and even death. According to the legends of the aborigines, these places, which were the place of birth, rest, and sleep of the first ancestors, are the so-called pmara kutata. Only initiates can approach pmara kutata of both types and only on the occasion of special ceremonies. At any other time these were places to be avoided on pain of death.
Uluru, Australia
This place is believed to be imbued with spiritual power. People who come here try to touch the mystery associated with these lands, and, they say, such attempts often end in success. Uluru (Ayers Rock) is where many of the ancestral paths of the “Dreamtime” intersect, making it of particular importance to Aboriginal people.
The main local attraction - a huge sandstone monolith - rises to a height of more than 400 m. It is the largest single piece of rock in the world. According to local legends, he appeared here during the "Dream Time" when two boys were playing in a puddle of mud left after rain. (After finishing the game, they went south to the Musgrave Mountains, then turned north to Mount Connor, famous for its flat top. There their bodies were left lying in the form of boulders.) The monolith is looked after by the Pitjantjara and Yankuntjatjara tribes, for whom it symbolizes the end " Dreamtime" and the beginning of the modern era.
The stone has a “sunny” and a “shadow” side. Legends connect the “shadow” side with the Python people, one of whose representatives carried her eggs on her head and buried them in the eastern part of Uluru. One day, when the pythons settled down here to rest, they were attacked by lyres, poisonous snakes. The southwestern part of the monolith is covered with traces of this battle. The silhouette of the python woman who took part in the battle is preserved on the eastern side, and the image of her opponent is on the western side of the stone. Local residents believe that these paintings were not created artificially, but arose as a result of natural changes in the rock.
Kata Tjuta, Australia
Also known as the Olgas and the "Mountain of Many Heads", Kata Tjuta rises six hundred meters above the surface of the plains in northern Australia and lies 30 miles west of Uluru. Today there is a national park here. The complex consists of numerous (30 to 50) domed mounds, the highest of which reaches 546 meters, and covers 11 square miles. Arising as a result of tectonic and geomorphic processes, they are of great importance to the belief system of the local population. This area has historically been an area of great importance to Aboriginal life. Representatives of the country's indigenous population still live and work here, and their language is considered the main spoken language. In October 1985, ownership of the land was transferred to the Anang, a tribe originally living in the Western Desert region.
Wollunggnari, Kimberley Plateau, Western Australia
Wullunggnari, located on the Kimberley plateau, is one of the most revered places for the Kimberley people. The three stones symbolize the Great Flood, which, according to Aboriginal beliefs, occurred during the “Dream Time” and destroyed most of the inhabitants of the Earth. The only survivors were a boy and a girl who were saved by grabbing the tail of a kangaroo, which carried them to solid ground. Children became ancestors for all humanity. (This myth has clear parallels with many cultural traditions of the Great Flood.) The Wandjina, the spiritual ancestors of the Kimberley, remained in Wullunggnari throughout the creation of the world. The main local shrines are the stone altar opposite the cave and the Valguna tree growing nearby, personifying wisdom, knowledge and law. It is decorated with amulets and used in various religious ceremonies.
Local residents come here to find a rebirth. Naked and unarmed, they bathe in sacred waters and sacrifice small pieces of meat. The initiation ceremony for boys is also performed here when they reach a certain age. Wollunggnari is believed to contain a large amount of the earth's jang energy and is also called the "place of thalu".
Arta Wararlpana, Flinders Ranges, South Australia
Arta Wararlpana (Mount Serle), located in the northern part of the Flinders Ranges, is considered sacred by the Adnyamatan people, whose mythology has its own explanation for its origin.
At a time when the country was a flat plain, a kangaroo named Urdlu and a yuro (a type of wallaby) called Mandya came here. Urdlu had a lot of food, and Mandya was hungry and stole his food. The angry kangaroo beat and drove Mandya away. The offended Yuro went home. Seeing a pebble on the ground, he lifted one stone and blew on it, as a result of which the Flinders Mountains appeared on the plain The longer it blew, the more hills grew on the ground. Urdlu the kangaroo, a resident of the plains, realized that if urgent measures were not taken, he might be left without a home, so he moved the ridge to its current place with his tail.
The sacred mountain itself was created in the “Time of Dreams” by two snakes.
Here was the last stronghold of the Adnyamatan tribe during their resistance to the colonists at the turn of the 19th century, and here are the graves of the priests who led this struggle. Thus, the mountain has not only mythological, but also historical significance for the aborigines.
Winbaraku, Northern Territory, Australia
West of Haast Cliff in the MacDonnell Mountains is the site of Winbaraku. According to legend, Jarapiri, the great snake ancestor who created the earth, was born here. Two peaks attract the main attention: the higher one is called Jarapiri, and the smaller one is Nabanunga, named after the woman who wants to bring him home. Tradition says that the creator refused to leave the mountains and remained in them forever. Winbaraku is revered by indigenous Australians, as many of the ancestors of the Dreamtime are associated with this place: the wallaby named Hare, the dogs of Melatji, Mamu-Boyunda and the Barking Spider. Valbiri elders believe that many of the tribe's ancestors visited this place.
For the Walbiri people, the creation of the land began in Vinbaraku. Mamu-Boyunda and Jarapiri, who rose from the earth in this very place, were responsible for giving shape to the created world. Desire and jealousy were also born here, due to the appearance of which the most ancient ancestors were forced to leave Vinbaraka and travel around the country. The only one who remained in these parts was the Barking Spider, who made his home in a cave at the base of the hill.
Peak Hill, Nooncanbah, Western Australia
Hill Peak, or Umpampurru, is the most significant sacred site for the Nunkanbah Aboriginal people. Here the mythical hero Unyupu had a fight with two snakes, which resulted in the creation of the Fitzroy River. The battle was stopped by Nangala, the pregnant wife of one of Unyupa's opponents. In the same region, on the way to the place of finding eternal peace, Luma, a lizard woman with a blue tongue, stopped. Being associated with such deities, Hill Peak acquired great significance for pilgrims. Powerful jang (sacred energy) belonging to the female spirit who protects women is concentrated here. Local energy also protects snakes, frogs and lizards.
The area is home to a number of sacred objects, including inma slabs, which serve to connect the desert inhabitants with their ancestors, and are also often perceived as magical weapons.
Nimbin, New South Wales, Australia
Although Nimbin is only a small town in northern New South Wales, it holds one of the most important places in Australian mythology. He inherited his name from the legendary Niimbungi, a powerful shaman who had supernatural powers and became famous for his mystical ability to heal.
Not far from Nimbin there is a source of energy, to which all those who want to become shamans come. Here they undergo tests, acquire knowledge and learn to communicate with spirits - these skills allow them to later take a leading position in their tribe.
The name Niimbungi is also associated with a legend about a giant dog - a theme popular in the mythology of most peoples of Australia. According to this mystical legend, Niimbunji and his colleague Balugaan had two dogs. One day, chasing a kangaroo, they reached the town of Ilbogan, where the cunning animal turned into a water snake and eluded its enemies. The dogs were caught and killed by local residents. Niimbungi and Balugaan took the bodies of their pets from the people and brought them to a waterfall near Mount Vije, where their remains turned into stones. At night, the dogs turn into huge dingoes and go hunting. Mount Wije is revered as a mystical sacred place by the Bundjalung people who live here.
Melville Island, Australia
The mysterious Melville Island, adjacent to Bathurst Island, is the homeland of the Tiwi people. The strip of water separating the islands from the mainland caused the tribe to be isolated from the rest of the population of Australia. Thanks to this, before the first stable contacts began at the beginning of the 20th century. The Tiwi lived only according to their own traditions and customs.
In local mythology, there is a mystical period similar to the "Dream Time", when the land, social structure and religion of the island were created with the participation of the ancestors. It all started with the appearance of the blind woman Mudungkala, who rose from the ground in the southeast of Melville. She crawled along the bare ground: this is how a strait was formed, separating the island from the mainland. She later went south and disappeared, leaving behind three children, two daughters and a son, Purukuparli. It was they who became the progenitors of the Tiwi people.
Purukuparli met his sister's great-great-granddaughter Bima and married her. Their son Jinani, who was not given enough attention and care, soon died. Angered by the death of the child, Purukuparli carried his body to the seashore and threw it into the water. A whirlpool formed at the site of the fall, and the ancestor of the people cursed the entire tribe, saying that from now on death would be the fate of every Tiwi.
Bima's father, Tokwampini, became the founder of Pukumani, the funeral ceremony for the body of Purukuparli. It is he who is credited with creating funeral pillars, bast baskets, spears and other items. After the ceremony was over, Tokwampini introduced the other ancestors to a system of laws governing marriage and other social norms. His words spread throughout the island in the form of flowers, animals and stones, thereby completing the process of its creation.
"European" Australians
Over the years of its relatively short history, Australia has changed so much that today it is difficult to give a clear definition to the very concept of “Australian”. The depth of these changes can be judged by the fact that in the Sydney telephone directory the Vietnamese surname Nguyen appears more often than Johnson.
Things were simpler before. The word "Australian" was basically synonymous with all things Anglo-Celtic. Almost all citizens had white skin color and similar tastes. Typical Australians were called Donald Bradman or Frank Sedgman. They all ate meat and vegetables and played cricket or tennis. It was a society that many now describe as boring, disconnected from the rest of the world, devoid of dynamism, and also racist.
However, with an average population density of approximately one person per square kilometer, it was impossible to afford to block foreigners’ access to the country. Those who came here were initially required to be white and, preferably, British. However, everything changed in the 1970s when the Labor Party came to power and decided to end the "white Australia" policy and replace it with a concept called "multiculture". Australian multiculture eliminated discrimination and opened the continent to immigrants of all colors and races.
Since 1975, so-called “ethnic radio” has been operating in Sydney, which broadcasts programs in more than 50 languages. And in the 80s, an “ethnic television channel” came into operation. There are over 2,300 national clubs and societies in the country, and hundreds of schools for immigrant children. Councils of ethnic societies and commissions on ethnic issues have been created, which monitor the equal participation of national minorities in social and political life. The intentions are good, but not all is well with the practical implementation of the concept. Immigrants make up 60 per cent of factory workers, while the most lucrative jobs, such as the civil service, are 80 per cent occupied by English-born Australians.
Now almost all nationalities of our planet are represented in Australia. True, the population is still 95 percent white, but the proportion from Britain has dropped to 75 percent. The remaining quarter of the population is a motley ethnic mix. Asians are still in the minority, but they have made a particularly noticeable change in the face of the country. The faces of the people you meet on the streets, the restaurants, the foreign signs - all this really gives the impression that the country has become Asian. Previously, when immigrants came mainly from Europe, in addition to English, Italian and Greek were primarily spoken here. And now Chinese with all its dialects has become the second language.
The Sinification of the Fifth Continent is proceeding at a rapid pace. In the anniversary year for Australia, 1988, an interesting note appeared in the Beijing magazine “China”: “In February 1988, in the Australian city of Sydney, the Chinese park “Yiyuan” (“Friendship”) was founded on an area of 10 thousand square meters, which became the largest park abroad in Chinese style. The park buildings occupied 1,500 square meters of area, the rest of the park consists of slides, lakes, green areas - a total of 40 picturesque corners. Here you can see the colorful gazebos, pavilions, terraces, graceful bridges and fancy stones characteristic of Chinese parks... "Yiyuan Park is the fruit of the joint work of builders from China and Australia, a symbol of friendship between the peoples of both countries. Opened on the 200th anniversary of the founding of Australia, the park brought joy to the Australian people and brought new colors to the beautiful palette of the city."
Colors are colors, but joy is not so certain. In 1995, one in 12 Sydney residents was born in Asia, and in 2020, according to demographer Charles Price, one in six Sydneysiders will have Asian blood in their veins. In 1995, Henry Chang, the deputy mayor of Sydney, began running for mayor in the City Assembly elections. As noted in the press, “if he ultimately wins them, it will be the first time that an Australian of Chinese origin will lead the city.” By the way, the current mayor of Seattle (USA) is an American Chinese.
History sometimes performs interesting experiments. Let's compare, for example, Australia and the United States. The emergence of these countries has much in common. Both were colonized, both by white settlers from Europe. In both cases, they were marginalized, rejected or broken with the then European civilization. In both cases, the colonies were part of the British Empire. The climate of both territories is comparable, as are the initial resources. The indigenous population, the aborigines, did not offer much resistance either here or there. The historical typology is almost completely the same.
In all other respects, the USA and Australia are very different countries. This is explained to no small extent by the fact that the “marginals” (this term is not entirely correct, but we will use it conditionally) were different. Mostly religious dissidents went to America. They didn't just snatch up its lands, minerals, furs, gold and other riches. But first of all, they carried out some kind of spiritual mission. They believed that they were following a high destiny: creating a new world on a new earth, based on truly Christian principles. Some things worked out, some didn’t. But America as a civilization has certainly succeeded.
And as we remember, at first people who were not on friendly terms with the law went to Australia. And the second stream of people with an adventurous streak, adventurers, poured in. The third are people who fled revolutions and wars. So the result is such an intricate hybrid. According to sociological surveys, he is quite friendly.
There are also disadvantages to such a “multi-ethnic group”, namely, it does not have its own culture: people from different countries, representatives of different races who settled the continent in the 19th century, have one thing in common - the desire to forget the country that rejected them. Consequently, there is no common spiritual cultural base (parallels with America again arise). In addition, the general educational level of the settlers was extremely low: criminals, adventurers and marginalized people rarely benefit from a classical education. As a result, Australia has not given the world a single major cultural and artistic figure; we do not know Australian writers, artists, or musicians. Perhaps, except for those to whom Hollywood brought fame (Mel Gibson).
What do we know about Australia? Of course, the first associations with this country are numerous kangaroos jumping across incredible expanses, crocodiles, surfing, the Sydney Opera House, the endless ocean, heat and aborigines.
In fact, when deciding to visit Australia, we must not forget that this is the only state on our “Blue Planet” that occupies an entire continent! Of course, the continent is smaller than Eurasia, but still! So trying to see the whole of Australia in a week is naive, to say the least. Walking around Sydney alone will take several days, but the Great Barrier Reef can be explored for months and never cease to be amazed.
First of all, we advise you to decide what interests you more - modern Australian cities or the nature of the Green Continent? In the first case, you will find Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, and in the second - remote corners, islands, reefs, mountains, rivers and lakes.
Let us remind you that in the Southern Hemisphere everything is the other way around and the Australian New Year is a very hot holiday that locals prefer to spend on the beaches. In any case, whenever you come to Australia, we advise you to take a ride along the Great Ocean Road with its “12 Apostles”, visit one of the country’s many national parks, see the continent’s most beautiful bridge, the Harbor Bridge, and also visit Fraser Island.
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What to see in Australia?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photographs and brief descriptions.
Australia's largest attraction. There is something for everyone here. Want to watch sharks? To the Great Barrier Reef! Just lie on the cleanest beach? Great, there's enough room for everyone! Rent an expensive hotel room right on the shore? There are also such offers! Have you always wanted to learn diving? There is simply no better place for this. The Great Barrier Reef is amazingly diverse, attracting both tourists and scientists.
This is a real calling card of the country. Even those who have never heard anything about Australian attractions have certainly seen this building against the backdrop of Sydney Bay on postcards and travel brochures. A shell building, a structure that fits perfectly into the landscape, a masterpiece of architectural thought - no matter how the Sydney Opera House is called.
This picturesque group of limestone cliffs is the most frequently visited attraction located on the famous Great Ocean Road in Victoria. A tourist center was even built around the Twelve Apostles. Helicopter rides over the cliffs are popular among travelers. By the way, there are not 12 “apostles”, but eight - the ninth rock collapsed in 2005, unable to withstand the onslaught of waves.
This is a sacred place for the Australian Aborigines, the rock, towering above the rest of the area, is brick red in color. Uluru is famous for its ancient rock art and caves. Conveniently, the resort town of Yulara and the airport are located nearby, so getting to this amazing attraction is convenient and easy.
These rocks are not actually blue - this effect is given by the bluish fumes from the eucalyptus forests covering them. Part of this area, stretching west from the Sydney city limits, is recognized as a UNESCO site and a National Park. Tourists are advised to start exploring the Blue Mountains from the town of Katoomba, near which there are waterfalls, caves and other interesting places.
This is Sydney's largest bridge and one of the largest steel arch bridges on the planet. A local landmark, a decoration of the city landscape and a place of attraction for thousands of tourists. Particularly popular are walks along the side arch to the top of the bridge, from where an amazing view of the metropolis opens. To climb, you will need the help of an instructor and a special suit with insurance.
The tallest building in the city cannot fail to attract attention. Sydney Tower has nothing to do with TV broadcasts. There are shops, restaurants and other entertainment facilities here. The most thrilling experience will come from visiting the retractable observation platform, which rises above Sydney to a height of 268 meters.
In fact, this national park was named not after the birds, but in honor of the Aboriginal tribe. Kakadu Park attracts tourists with its amazing landscapes and the opportunity to see rare animals, birds and reptiles. Archaeologists are especially interested in two caves where rock paintings dating back about 18 thousand years were found.
Visiting Australia and not driving along the most picturesque road in the world is a big omission! This is 243 kilometers that stretch along the ocean coast in Victoria. There is also a hiking trail along the road. In addition to the Twelve Apostles, there are many interesting things to see along the Great Ocean Road, such as the Lock Ard Ridge and Grotto.
The easternmost point of the Green Continent, a cape with stunning views of the ocean. Cape Byron, so named by the famous traveler James Cook, is decorated with a snow-white lighthouse that saved many sailors from shipwreck. The area is very beautiful and therefore attracts many tourists.
This beach is located just 10 kilometers from the center of Sydney and attracts tens of thousands of people every year. People jog here, interesting competitions and races are held, they simply sunbathe, swim and surf. A wide strip of white sand and clear ocean waves make Bondi Beach one of the most beautiful on the planet.
Few people now remember that at one time numerous convicts were exiled to Australia. One of the most terrible places of detention was the Port Arthur prison, located in Tasmania. The building has been perfectly preserved, along with the church and chapel, so that it has become a real museum, perfectly demonstrating the conditions in which convicts lived.
Today, of course, the British Queen does not live in this Gothic building, but the truly royal chic is perfectly preserved. The house is located in the business district of Sydney and is a popular, quite modern shopping center. You can visit the Queen Victoria House for two reasons - admire its rich decoration and go shopping.
This is Melbourne's largest Anglican Cathedral, a majestic building where you can come not only to pray, but also to admire the unique decoration and beautiful architecture. One of the most prominent buildings in the city, it is famous for its organ, which is considered the largest of all those built in the 19th century.
A unique natural wonder located in the northwestern part of Australia. Horizontal waterfalls occur only during sufficiently long tidal currents, when powerful water flows pass through narrow settlements between picturesque rocks. The spectacle is amazing and bewitching, created due to the difference in the levels of water flows.
At least 140 thousand tourists come every year to take a look at this natural miracle. Looking at this rock, it really seems that a wave from the ocean somehow ended up in the middle of the land and froze forever. Scientists consider the Stone Wave to be a unique rock formation created by nature from granite, just think about it - 60 million years ago!
Have you watched TV shows about animals with the host Stephen Irwin, the famous crocodile hunter? We're sure you watched it! The Australian Zoo in Queensland is associated with his name and is now run by Irvine's widow. The zoo has created surprisingly comfortable conditions not only for rare animals, but also for visitors who have something to be surprised and happy about during their visit.
This is probably the most unusual and picturesque state of Australia, located on the island of the same name, in the very south of our planet. Then there is only Antarctica and the ocean. Among tourists, Tasmania is famous for the annual regatta from Sydney to Hobart, Tasmania's main city, as well as races that attract spectators from all over the world. The nature of the island is also unique.
The Aborigines, several thousand of whom lived on this island before the colonization of Australia, simply called it “Paradise”. And this is not surprising. It is incredibly beautiful here, nature has remained virtually untouched and the island, located off the eastern coast of the continent, continues to attract tourists. True, it was not possible to preserve untouched the amazing “hanging” freshwater lakes for which Fraser is famous - there are too many people who want to see such exotic things.
This is a sight that millions of tourists cannot pass by. In fact, thousands of little penguins marching en masse into the ocean waves and returning at sunset, almost at the same time every day - what could be more interesting! Usually special tours are organized to Phillip Island, during which they also offer to visit a penguin show and the Koala Sanctuary.
