What Makes Australia Unique? Some Facts Will Astonish You!
Every country is different with its culture, social norms, geography, food, and climate, but there are some that have a truly unique status. Australia is one of them. Australia is also known as the “Land Down Under” because it was discovered when explorers were searching for the land under Asia in the Southern Hemisphere.
Besides being the biggest continent country, and its peculiar English accent, there is a host of elements for which Australia endears and attracts people from all over the world. Although it won’t be easy to discuss it in a single article, we will try to shed light on things that make Australia unique among the “rest.”
What Australia is well known for?
Australia is globally famous for its natural wonders, wide-open spaces, beaches, deserts, "The Bush", and "The Outback". Australia is one of the world’s most highly urbanised countries; it’s well known for its attractive mega cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
The Continent Nation!
While talking about Australia’s individuality, we can’t ignore its biggest proof: the geography of the country. Let’s dive into all the interesting bits of the geography of Australia. For starters, mainland Australia is the world’s largest island that also tops as a continent.
In fact, Australia is considered the 2nd driest continent after Antarctica. The busy Sydney harbour or the skyline of metropolitan Melbourne make it seem unbelievable that nearly 40% of Australia’s land is uninhabitable. One reason behind this large landmass being so desolate is the shortage of rainfall. More than two-third part of the country only receives less than 500 mm annual rain.
This arid, uninhabitable part of Australia lies in the middle of the continent (the Outback), away from the coasts. And this is also the reason why more than 80% of the country’s population lives within 50 kilometres from the coast.
If you are mesmerised by the red and blue expanse of Grand Canyon, you have to explore the vast Outback of Australia. It is one of those regions that still maintain the ecosystem that it had, say, 5000 years ago. The vast rocky landscape with baking hot sun and the fauna that is exclusive only to that region— you will find the Outback of Australia in the most natural state piece of land anywhere in the world. It is still largely unaffected by the human transgressions.
In the expanse of the Outback’s Red Center, there is tall sandstone standing among the nothingness. If you have seen 2001: A Space Odyssey, you may find this rock monolith eerily similar to the one aliens left in the movie. Uluru also looks a part of Mars because it is red and situated in the vast no man’s land.
Kakadu National Park
If you want to see biodiversity at full display, you have to visit Kakadu National Park. It is one of the largest national parks in the world and located in the Northern Territory. From flatback turtles to aboriginal rock paintings and saltwater crocodiles to thousands of plants, the park is home to some of the most unique living creatures and artefacts.
Being an island, Australia also draws attention to its long coastline hosting vast rain forests. The greenery on the coastal belt that allows plant and animal farming makes a great contrast with the arid, red, and hot Outback.
The Australian English accent
As mentioned earlier, Australians have carved their own accent. It has more flair, fluency than the other English accents and hence is a bit difficult to understand for people who are fresh off the boat. Similarly, Australian humour and slang are different from their other English counterparts. It is drier, sarcastic, self-deprecating, and high on irony.
Australians are also the masters of turning words into conversational abbreviations. “Chewie” for chewing gum, “arvo” for the afternoon, “ambo” for ambulance paramedics, “Maccas or Mackers” for McDonald’s — there are so many such abridged words that you will only find in the Australian dialect. For people who just have arrived to study in Australia, it is important to get accustomed to those peculiarities to assimilate into society quickly.
The Australian food
A country that can serve wonderful food and drink always proves to be a great host. Australia is one of those hosts. The vast coastline makes Australia the 3rd third largest fishing zone in the world. If you love to devour seafood, a savoury nonstop party awaits you in Australia. From shark meat to banana prawns and wild-caught crabs to fresh oysters, you can have your dietary proteins sorted in via an array of seafood options.
Australia has some of the best cities in the world
Australia has more than 40 cities spread across different states and territories. Most of them are on the coast or lie in the near vicinity. Amid this city cluster, we have Melbourne and Sydney— two of the world’s most significant metropolitan regions.
Since Australia is the country of immigrants, you will find the cultural diversity at full beautiful display in large cities. Any hardwired urbanite from any part of the world will feel like home in Australian cities. Some of the world’s best universities and colleges are in those cities catering to students from all over the world.
The thing that makes Australia’s metropolises unique from other such urban centres is that they are not overcrowded. We see that cosmopolitan cities around the world have developed a claustrophobic ambiance. However, that’s not the case with Australian metropolitan centres. They are bustling with activity but without being suffocating.
For a student mulling over whether to study in Australia, all these unique things about the country make it a more attractive study destination. Living and exploring a country that has so much to offer will help you in growing as a better student and person.