Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates:
27 00 S, 133 00 E
Area:
Total: 7,686,850 sq km Land: 7,617,930 sq km Water: 68,920 sq km Note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
Area - comparative:
Slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
25,760 km
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 12 nm Contiguous zone: 24 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
Generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
Terrain:
Mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m Highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
Natural resources:
Bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum
Land use:
Arable land: 6.55% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland) Permanent crops: 0.04% Other: 93.41% (2001)
Irrigated land:
24,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires
Environment - current issues:
Soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:
World’s smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating tropical sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the most consistent winds in the world
