Australia

 

50 Surprising Facts About Australia

1. Australia is the world’s smallest continent and the largest island.

2. It’s home to the world’s longest fence, the Dingo Fence, stretching over 5,600 km.

3. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth and can be seen from space.

4. Australia has 19 different wine regions, producing some of the world’s best wines.

5. More than 80% of Australians live within 100 km of the coast.

6. It has over 10,000 beaches – you could visit a new beach every day for over 27 years!

7. Australia is the only continent without an active volcano.

8. It is home to the world’s deadliest snakes, including the inland taipan and the eastern brown snake.

9. The Australian Alps receive more snowfall than the Swiss Alps.

10. Australia has over 200 species of marsupials, including kangaroos, koalas, and wombats.

11. The country has a “white Christmas” but in the middle of summer, on December 25th.

12. Australia’s national floral emblem is the golden wattle.

13. There are over 700 different species of eucalyptus trees in Australia.

14. Australia is home to the world’s largest salt lake, Lake Eyre, which can fill up to 9 meters deep during extreme rain.

15. It has the world’s largest population of wild camels, originally brought by Afghan explorers in the 19th century.

16. The Australian platypus is one of the few mammals that lay eggs.

17. The city of Melbourne has been named the world’s most livable city multiple times.

18. Australia has the world’s largest living sandstone monolith, Uluru (Ayers Rock).

19. The country’s official name is the Commonwealth of Australia.

20. Australia is the only continent governed by a single country.

21. The Sydney Opera House has more than a million tiles on its roof.

22. Australia’s official language is English, but there are over 250 languages spoken across the country.

23. It has more than 30,000 species of insects, and new species are discovered regularly.

24. The island state of Tasmania is known for its pristine wilderness and biodiversity.

25. Australia’s famous “Outback” covers more than 70% of the country.

26. The Southern Hemisphere’s largest city is Sydney.

27. Australia’s national sport, Australian Rules Football, is played nowhere else in the world.

28. The Australian Alps provide about 1/3 of the country’s freshwater.

29. The “Australian Alps Walking Track” is over 650 km long, crossing through some of the country’s most scenic areas.

30. Australia has the world’s largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef, which supports more than 1,500 species of fish.

31. The Australian continent is drifting northward at a rate of about 7 cm per year.

32. Kangaroos and emus are featured on the Australian coat of arms because they cannot walk backward.

33. The world’s oldest known living culture belongs to the Aboriginal Australians.

34. Australia has a unique “superb lyrebird,” known for its impressive ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds.

35. The “Tasmanian Devil” is a real animal, not just a cartoon character, and it’s native to Tasmania.

36. Australia’s largest city, Sydney, is home to one of the busiest harbors in the world.

37. The Australian dollar is one of the most traded currencies in the world.

38. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth, with around 70% of its land classified as arid or semi-arid.

39. The country has over 500 national parks, preserving its diverse landscapes and wildlife.

40. The Sydney Harbour Bridge, often called the “Coathanger,” is the world’s largest steel arch bridge.

41. Australia is the only continent where you can find the world's largest living structure (the Great Barrier Reef) and the world's largest monolith (Uluru).

42. The country has a network of railways that can span from Sydney to Perth, covering over 4,000 km.

43. The Australian Outback is known for its “bush tucker,” indigenous foods like bush tomatoes and wattleseed.

44. Australia’s wine industry is one of the oldest in the world, with vineyards dating back to the 19th century.

45. Australia has some of the clearest water in the world, with the Great Barrier Reef's water clarity often exceeding 50 meters.

46. The world’s largest cattle station is Anna Creek Station in South Australia, covering more than 23,000 square kilometers.

47. Australia’s unique wildlife includes the world’s only egg-laying mammal, the echidna, in addition to the platypus.

48. The country has more than 200,000 shipwrecks, many dating back to the 17th century.

49. Australia was the first country to grant women the right to vote in federal elections.

50. Australia’s national colors, green and gold, are inspired by the golden wattle and the eucalyptus trees.