Australia is a continental country. This is one of the most amazing states in the world because it has a unique nature, topography, flora and fauna. Australia is a country with “character”: the climate here is very difficult, summer here begins in the midst of winter, and winter - during summer.
Australia is full of contrasts. It is an island surrounded on all sides by the ocean, but most of it is desert. Aboriginal culture and the culture of the modern world coexist here. Industrial cities are surrounded by wild nature. It is impossible to get tired of this continent; Australia constantly amazes the imagination of tourists. And the tourists themselves want to return to this stunning country to once again enjoy its chic and simplicity.
Capital |
Canberra |
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Population |
23,002,866 inhabitants |
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7,692 thousand km² |
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Population density |
2.8 people per km² |
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English |
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Religion |
Multi-religious country, has no official religion |
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Form of government |
A constitutional monarchy |
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Australian dollar (AUD) |
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Timezone |
Three time zones: Western Time (UTC+8), Central Time (UTC+9:30) and Eastern Time (UTC+10) |
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International dialing code |
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Domain zone |
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Electricity |
220 V, 50 Hz, three-pin sockets |
Climate and weather
The climate in Australia is determined by its close location to the equator. Winter (December to February) is the hottest time here. Air temperatures can reach +36 °C, and sometimes +40 °C in the center of Australia and +30 °C on the West Coast. Summer, on the contrary, is very cool, up to +20 °C in Central Australia and up to +10 °C in the west.
The most inhabited part of Australia is the southeast coast. This part is also the most loyal in terms of climate: winters here are not so hot (+25...+27 °C), and summers are mild and rainy with temperatures up to +12...+14 °C.
The climate of the island of Tasmania is the mildest in the entire country: in summer the temperature reaches +10 °C, and in winter - +17...19 °C.
The driest climate is found in central Australia. There is minimal precipitation per year here, which is why the desert spreads here. The island of Tasmania receives the maximum amount of rainfall in the country in winter. This is the rainiest place in Australia.
Nature
Australia is a country with rich and unique nature. There are almost no rivers in Australia, but there are a large number of lakes. The most significant river here is Murray. The largest lake is Air, which is salty. However, Australia attracts tourists not with its rivers and lakes, but with its sea beaches with white delicate sand, comfortably located in the northeast and east of the mainland. Also attracts Great Barrier Reef- the largest coral reef in the world. Diving and surfing lovers return here again and again to once again plunge into this stunning beauty and enjoy the unimaginable underwater world.
Some tourists are attracted by the deserts and semi-deserts that occupy most of Australia. They also have something mysterious and unique, especially oases.
In Australia there is a valid Mawson Volcano(this is the highest point in the country).
The flora and fauna of this country are unique and inimitable. Many of Australia's plants are evergreen, but some have been able to adapt to dry weather and fires. However, it is the local fauna that is of greatest interest. After all, you won’t find animals like these anywhere else (except in zoos). Platypuses and echidnas, kangaroos and koalas, emus and cockatoos - they are all striking in their dissimilarity to the animals we are used to. It's worth going to Australia just for them. Please note that there are a lot of venomous snakes in Australia.
In the north of Australia there is Kakadu National Park, where you can get acquainted with the rich flora and fauna of this beautiful country. It also contains Aboriginal rock art dating back over 25,000 years.
Attractions
In Australia, man-made attractions cannot be separated from those created by nature.
The highlights of Australia include the extraordinary flora and fauna of the country-continent, a mountain made of red soil Ayers Rock , oases in the middle of the desert, Great Barrier Reef, which is included in the UN World Heritage List.
Sydney is the most beautiful city in the world. It combines the industrial modern world with its skyscrapers and the ancient buildings of the King's Cross and Rocks districts, parks and boulevards and Asian quarters. In Sydney, it is worth visiting the well-known Sydney Museum of Australian History and Anthropology, Museum of Modern Art, Nicholson Museum of Antiquity, National Maritime Museum, Australian Wildlife Park and Hyde Park. Particularly noteworthy is the embankment in the Woolumulu area and the opal factory, where you can buy jewelry made from opals, pearls or diamonds. Sydney is worth a visit if only to get into the spirit of Australia, to feel its contrasting and contradictory nature, alluring with its uniqueness.
Melbourne is the largest city in Australia. Melbourne's small city center is home to museums, galleries and wonderful shops. A huge part of the city is given over to parks and squares; there is also Royal Botanic Garden. It is also worth visiting the National Gallery and Victoria Museum, St. Patrick's Cathedral, James Cook Memorial and the city's old Mint, Phillip Island, the Great Ocean Road, the beautiful Port Campbell National Park and the picturesque weathered coastlines of south-west Victoria.
City Darwin is a small modern city. Here you can stroll through a large number of parks: Kakadu Park, Northern Territory Wildlife Park, beautiful parks Lichfield And Katerina Gorge. This city will help you immerse yourself in the unique wild nature of Australia.
Nutrition
There is no traditional Australian cuisine, it is a continuation of British cuisine. However, all kinds of seafood predominate here. In addition, they eat kangaroo meat, crocodile meat, emu meat and even larvae and beetles. But don't worry, there are many restaurants and cafes here offering almost all types of international cuisine. In addition, there are plenty of fast food restaurants in Australia.
Australian wines are very popular abroad. But the most popular drink among Australians themselves is beer.
In Australia, you can take advantage of the following food options:
BYO Restaurants, which means "bring with you". In this case, we mean alcoholic products. This is due to the fact that not all restaurants in Australia receive a license to sell alcohol. Please note that some restaurants of this type only allow you to bring beer, others only wine. You must pay a fee for drinking alcohol in such establishments. (from 2 to 15 $).
Chains of Asian eateries are very common in this country.
In many parks you can cook your own barbecue.
In Australia there are also so-called "salad bars"— self-service bars. Here you have to pay an entrance fee of around 6-8 Australian dollars. The assortment includes salads, appetizers, soups, vegetables and fruits.
Accommodation
In Australia, tourists are offered a wide variety of accommodation options, be it a hotel, inn, hostel, campsite or apartments.
The most affordable accommodation option in the country is a hostel. Here you will be provided with a private room with a shared bathroom for 20-30 $ per night. The same price includes the opportunity to use a kitchen with a refrigerator and a supply of food.
Hotels are a more expensive accommodation option. It is worth noting that Australian hotels are divided into classes, but without taking into account stars. Here you will be provided with a high level of service with free internet, morning newspapers and meals.
Motels This is the most common accommodation option in Australia. They are cheaper than hotels, but the quality of service is simpler. The cost of living is approx. 50 $ per night. For this amount you will be offered a separate room with a personal shower and toilet.
Apartment rentals are also available for tourists. But, as a rule, apartments are provided for a short period of time (maximum a couple of nights). In this case, you can use the kitchen, washing machine, clothes dryer and other services.
Alternatively, you can live on a farm. Here you will be provided with quality food and Australian flavor.
Entertainment and relaxation
Sun and beach are what comes to mind when the word “Australia” is mentioned. This country attracts hundreds of tourists with its beach holidays. Australia has more than 10 thousand beaches. Every tourist can choose a vacation to their liking.
The most popular beach in Australia among tourists is Bondi Beach. There are many cafes, restaurants and hotels here. Gold Coast main beach Surface Paradise. The most picturesque Australian beach, which “plays with colors” in the rays of the rising and setting sun, is Cable Beach. For those who like a secluded, relaxing holiday without crowds of people, Carramoin and beaches Bedarra Islands. Beaches are a great place for tourists with children. Dunk Islands And Magnetic.
Everyone knows that Australia is very popular among water sports enthusiasts. Its beaches leave no one indifferent to surfers, yachtsmen, or fans of diving and water skiing. Here you can try spearfishing.
Australians are big fans of golf, tennis and badminton. Therefore, there are a lot of areas for practicing these sports.
Australia's main cultural event is the Sydney Festival, which is celebrated in January. It includes a military parade, street performances, and theater premieres.
In February in Sydney you can attend the festival of sexual minorities.
In Melbourne at the end of January you can attend a tennis tournament, and in February - the Formula 1 world championship at the Australian Grand Prix.
Purchases
Australian stores are usually open from 09:00 to 17:00, weekends are Saturday and Sunday. However, some supermarkets allow themselves to be open on weekends, but not for long.
If you made a purchase in an Australian store for more than AUD 300 in one receipt, you may be eligible for a GST refund of 9.1%. To receive a tax refund, you must have the purchase in its original condition, as well as the receipt.
Transport
In Australia, you drive on the left. This must be taken into account when driving a car in this country. Many people note that Australia's roads are very good.
The distance between the main cities of the country is significant (for example, from Sydney to Melbourne 900 km). Because of this, airplanes are the most common form of travel within the country. The flight cost is low. Flights depart from Melbourne to Sydney and back every 15 minutes.
Rail transport is poorly developed in this country. This is due to the fact that the states poorly cooperate with each other on this issue, as well as due to the large distance between cities and the difficulty of laying a railway. In addition, not all states have it available at all. The cost of traveling by train is not much lower than by plane, but the speed is much lower.
Traveling by bus is a more popular mode of transportation. You can use a variety of types of tickets, including charter flights.
Ferry is another popular mode of transport. The main ferry service is between Melbourne and Devonport. The ferry can be used every day. There is also a ferry service between Palm Beach, which is on the central coast of New South Wales, and Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Connection
Wireless Internet is very widespread here, with quite a few access points. There are Internet cafes in large cities. Most hotels offer their guests free Internet access.
There are pay phones all over the country. With their help, you can make both long-distance and international calls. In addition, you can purchase a SIM card. Topping up your balance occurs through the purchase of a “voucher” that must be activated. When purchasing a SIM card, your balance will be zero.
Safety
Travelers should be aware that food, firearms, drugs, certain medications, and animal and plant materials are prohibited from being brought into Australia.
It is also prohibited to export animals and plants, bird feathers, corals, shells, bones, and bamboo products from Australia without the necessary permit.
We offer you emergency numbers:
013
— emergency calls;
000
- police, fire service, emergency medical services. When you dial this number, you will be connected to an operator who needs to tell you a code word indicating the help you need: police, fire or ambulance.
Here are some important laws, failure to comply with which will result in a fine or even visa revocation and deportation:
- alcohol and cigarettes can only be purchased by persons over 18 years of age;
- smoking in public places is prohibited;
- you cannot purchase, sell, store, or use illegal drugs, including marijuana;
- Under no circumstances should you spit on the street, otherwise you will receive a fine;
- It is prohibited to carry weapons, including knives.
Never drive after drinking alcohol. This is not only unsafe, but is also punishable by a fine. You should also drive on the roads at night carefully, do not drive recklessly. In Australia, police regularly patrol at night and enforce traffic rules. The fine for violating these rules can be AUD 100 or more.
Real estate
Property prices in Australia are relatively high. The most expensive real estate is in large cities. For example, in Sydney or Melbourne a house costs approximately 580 000 $ , and the apartment will cost the amount 540 000 $ . In smaller cities, property prices are also lower. Thus, a house in Adelaide is selling for $400,000, and an apartment can be purchased for 325 000 $.
The process of buying property in Australia for foreign nationals is not easy. To purchase real estate in this country, you must obtain permission from the Government Council on Foreign Investment. In addition, a mandatory condition for carrying out a real estate transaction is the participation of a lawyer in it.
Payment for the purchased property must be made only by bank transfer.
In addition, it must be taken into account that if the visa to leave Australia expires, the property must be sold. If you want to avoid this trouble, real estate can be registered in the name of a legal entity registered in Australia.
Business climate
Australian law allows anyone to do business. This contributes to the “survival” of the strongest in the business environment - most companies cease to exist within the first year of operation and lose a lot of money. The organizational and legal forms here are different: from private small businesses to large foreign companies.
Every company in the country, small or large, is required to keep accounting records, be a good taxpayer and insure all its employees.
If you need additional funds to start your own business, you can easily take out a bank loan for a long period at a low interest rate, but only if you have a good credit history.
The financial year in Australia ends on 30 June. At the end of this period, until October 30, taxpayers are required to fill out a tax return and pay the state. Residents of the country are required to pay taxes on all income received (including income outside the country). Non-residents pay taxes only on income received in Australia. The income tax rate here is quite high - 30 %.
The VAT rate is relatively small - 10 %.
The most developing industries in Australia are programming, mining and chemical industries, construction, and medicine. They account for the majority of exhibitions and conferences held in Australia. Their main goal is to increase the level of development of industries and agriculture both in Australia and abroad, exchange experience and knowledge, as well as protect the unique ecosystem of Australia and Oceania. Mostly exhibitions are held in cities such as Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane.
Here are some tips to help you enjoy your holiday in this impressive country.
A total of 900 Australian dollars worth of goods can be imported into Australia duty-free. For goods exceeding this amount, you will have to pay customs duty. You can import no more than 250 cigarettes (250 grams of other tobacco products) and 1125 ml of alcohol duty free.
Banks in Australia are open only on weekdays from 09:00 to 16:00 or until 17:00. Currency exchange offices are open not only on weekdays, but also on weekends. ATMs operate 24 hours a day.
If you decide to travel inland, then first stock up on fuel, water, food, matches and spare parts for the car. You will not find telephones in the interior of the country, there is no mobile communication there, so it would be a good idea to take a satellite phone with you, and also tell your friends or the local police exactly where you are going and for how long.
If you decide to rent a car, you will need to have an international driving license, a deposit amount, as well as more than a year of driving experience and an age over 21, but not more than 75.
Be careful in the wild: Australia has many wild venomous snakes and insects. Before traveling to this country, read the rules for providing assistance in case of bites from venomous animals.
Also remember about the rules of behavior on the water and the presence of sharks. Safe swimming areas are indicated by green or red-yellow flags, while red or yellow flags warn of a dangerous swimming area.
Visa information
To visit Australia, citizens of the CIS countries and the Russian Federation must obtain a visa, which can be a visitor or transit visa. A visitor visa is provided to persons whose purpose of visit is to visit their relatives or friends (for up to 12 months), tourism, and study (no more than three months). Moreover, the person who decides to issue this visa must make sure that the applicant intends to visit Australia only for tourism purposes. Otherwise, the visa will be denied.
A transit visa is issued to those persons whose purpose of visit is direct transit through Australian territory to a third country. In this case, the period of stay in Australia should not exceed three days.
I bring to your attention a selection of interesting facts about Australia:
Name:
The name "Australia" comes from the Latin. terra australis incognita - “unknown southern land” (Latin australis - southern, south).
Australia was originally called New South Wales.
The nickname of the Green Continent is The land down under.
In simple colloquial speech, Australians use the word "Oz" to refer to Australia, and the Australian population uses the word "Aussie" to refer to the adjective "Australian".
Flag:
In addition to the Southern Cross flag, Australia has two other official flags - the Continental Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag.
Coat of arms:
The Australian coat of arms shows a kangaroo and an emu together. The reason for this was the fact that kangaroos and emus do not have the physical ability to move backwards, but can only move forward.
Language:
80% of Australians speak English.
Australia has its own dialect of English, informally called “strine”, from the Australian pronunciation of the word “Australian”.
If he had not gone against the will of his father, he would never have become a sailor. If he had not become a good sailor, it is unlikely that he would have been destined to join a distant expedition as an officer.
But even in this case, if he had not had an ineradicable thirst for discovery, he would not have undertaken exploratory voyages around the then little-known continent. And then his name, like many others, would have disappeared into obscurity...
But he did what he did. And now his name is firmly and repeatedly fixed on the geographical map: in the names of mountain ranges and rivers, capes and bays, islands and reefs, cities and streets...
On the geographical map of the continent, the study of which he devoted the best years of his life and where monuments are now erected to him. Now the name he gave to this continent and his own name are always nearby. Australia - and Matthew Flinders... You must admit, many of us, reading books in childhood about expeditions to unknown lands and the incredible adventures of travelers, dreamed that something similar would happen to us. Yes, we dreamed, but, as a rule, until... we grew up. Matthew Flinders was one of those few whose boyhood dreams came true. And what a one! In fact, he was destined to complete the discovery of an entire continent, Australia, which had lasted more than a hundred years!
Matthew was born on March 16, 1774, into a purely land-based family of a doctor. Accordingly, he was destined for a medical career. But Flinders was knocked off the beaten path by his relatives, one might say, “His Majesty Chance.” Somehow, a book that, as they say, needs no introduction, fell into the boy’s hands - “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe; It was she who determined the future fate of Flinders.
He firmly decided to become a sailor... and immediately encountered obstacles on the way to his cherished goal. Friends convinced Matthew to abandon his intention, but his father simply did not want to hear about his son’s absurd idea, from his point of view. But, as you know, difficulties stop only the weak; They temper the strong...
Flinders' uncle, the only sailor in his family, also did not support the young man - and, in order to discourage his nephew from sailing, he gave him two books to read: “Elements of Navigation” and “Principles of Trigonometry.” Like, this is the wisdom that awaits you, and not the adventures of Robinson Crusoe... The result was the opposite of what was intended. Matthew seriously began studying navigation and mathematics - and within a year he was sufficiently prepared to begin difficult naval service.
However, obstacles remained because the father was adamant...
Help came from an unexpected direction. Matthew's cousin, who served as a governess in the family of Captain Thomas Pasley, told him about her relative's passionate desire.
Having invited Matthew to his place for a conversation, the experienced sailor realized that the boy not only really dreams of the sea, but, to a certain extent, is ready for sailing. Then everything happened as if in a fairy tale. After some time, Matthew Flinders received not only the patronage of Captain Pasley into the navy, but also... the corresponding blessing of his father! And so, a fifteen-year-old teenager becomes the captain's servant on a warship...
Before following Flinders further along his life’s path, let’s make a small but necessary digression. Before heading to the ship, Matthew said goodbye to friends and acquaintances. He also went to see his friend George Bass. True, I did not find that home, since Bass left to continue his education.
Years will pass, and the two fellow countrymen will meet, but under different circumstances that are directly related to our story. However, more on that later...
Australia as a country is simply doomed to glory, because its residents were selected by the best English judges
Australia (from lat. Terra Australis- “southern land”) is the sixth largest state in the world in terms of area and the only state on Earth that occupies an entire continent.
Geographical location of Australia
Australia (Commonwealth of Australia, Commonwealth of Australia) occupies the continent Australia, island Tasmania and a number of other islands Indian, Quiet And Southern oceans. To the north of Australia are located East Timor, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, to the northeast - Vanuatu, New Caledonia And Solomon islands, to the southeast - New Zealand. The Australian mainland is divided by Indian And Pacific Ocean. Often, on geographical and geopolitical grounds, Australia is included in the region Australia and Oceania.
Square Australia- 7617930 km 2. The length from west to east is about 4000 km, from north to south - 3128 km. The length of the coastline is 34218 km.
In relief Australia Three main regions can be distinguished: Western plateau with a relatively flat surface, Eastern Mountains with significant differences in elevation and Central lowland between them.
TO Australia applies Great Barrier Reef- the world's largest coral reef, stretching from north to south along the east coast Australia.
Climate of Australia
40% of the territory Australia is located in the tropics. Due to the large extent of the continent and the diversity of operating factors, in different regions Australia The climate is different: in the north the climate is subequatorial, monsoonal, hot, in the central part it is tropical desert, in the southwest it is subtropical with a predominance of winter precipitation. On the east coast it is tropical, maritime, hot with a summer maximum of precipitation.
Climatic zones: - equatorial - tropical - subtropical - desert - semi-desert - temperate
Australia- the driest continent on Earth, the entire central part of the continent is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, and the main settlements are located on the coast, in a temperate climate zone.
Don't forget that Australia located in the southern hemisphere and the seasons are opposite to European ones: spring from September to November, summer from December to February, autumn from March to May, winter from June to August.
Features of Australia
Flora and fauna of Australia
Due to the continent's considerable age, wide variety of weather conditions and long-term geographic isolation, nature Australia rich and unique. Approximately 85% of plants, 84% of mammals, 45% of birds, 89% of coastal fish are endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else in the world. The most famous plants are eucalyptus adapted to hot, dry conditions. Of the animals - marsupials ( kangaroo, koala, wombat) and oviparous mammals ( platypus And echidna).
Of the dangerous animals, poisonous snakes should be noted, they are Australia 65 species. Some types of jellyfish that occasionally appear in coastal waters are deadly. Do not ignore swimming bans: if a ban is announced, there is a reason for it!
Population of Australia
Indigenous people Australia - Australian aborigines today they make up just over 2% of the population Commonwealth of Australia. Australia used by the British Empire as a place of exile for criminals. Check-in Australia immigrants from Britain began in 1788, when the first batch of exiles was landed on the east coast. Later, a wave of European immigration rose after the discovery of Australia gold. From 1851 to 1861, that is, in just a decade, the population tripled (!). In the 2nd half of the 19th century. V Australia many Germans moved in. Mass immigration continued during World War II. In 1900, the Australian colonies united into a federation. The consolidation of the Australian nation accelerated in the first decades of the 20th century, when Australia's national economy finally strengthened.
Residents Australia friendly, but for them there are no authorities, and they are sharp with their words. On the one hand, the country retains the influence of English culture, sometimes manifested in restraint, primness, and puritanism; on the other hand, similarities are noted Australia With California, which is manifested in love of life, freedom of morals, and the habit of spending most of the time outdoors. Australians are friendly to foreigners. The country is home to about a quarter of a million people from the former USSR.
Australians are extremely laconic, they find brevity a wonderful quality. Business proposals should be presented simply and concisely, without going into details. When describing a product, you must honestly indicate its pros and cons. The offer price should not be inflated.
The tradition of most Australians is a relaxed style of clothing. But for business meetings, visits to concert halls and the best restaurants, of course, you need an appropriate suit.
Languages in Australia
Official language Australia- English, in which a special Australian dialect was formed - strine (strine)
The capital of Australia
Capital Australia- city Canberra, which emerged as a result of long debates. The largest and most important cities claimed the role of capital Australia - Sydney And Melbourne, but in order not to offend the inhabitants of one of these cities, a Solomonic decision was made: a completely new city was built between them.
Australian currency
National currency Australia - Australian dollar. One dollar is equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars and coins in 2, 1 dollar and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents. The import of national and foreign currency is not limited. The export of national and foreign currency is allowed - no more than $5,000.
Currency exchange is more profitable in banks than in hotels and restaurants. Banks are open from 9:30 to 16:00 on weekdays, on Friday - until 17:00.
Australian Customs Regulations
Food cannot be brought into the country. It is prohibited to import drugs, steroids, bladed weapons and firearms, protected plants, animals and products from them into the country. Any animals, food, plants and products made from them must be declared and subject to quarantine control. Restrictions on import/export to/from Australia There are no currencies of any kind in any amounts. When importing cash in excess of the equivalent of 5,000 Australian dollars, they must be indicated in the declaration. This rule does not apply to travel checks and credit cards.
Travelers over 16 years of age can import duty-free alcoholic beverages - up to 1 liter, tobacco products - 50 cigarettes or 50 grams of cigars and other tobacco products. Australia has the most vigilant quarantine service. Upon arrival at the airport, you and your luggage can be sprayed with a WHO-approved disinfectant. The fine for knowingly transporting prohibited products ranges from $32 to $5,794, or up to 5 years in prison. When leaving the country, each passenger over 12 years old pays a tax of 27 Australian dollars.
Time in Australia
Australia cover 3 time zones. In the eastern part ( Sydney, Canberra) time is 7 hours ahead of Moscow.
Transport in Australia
The country drives on the left. For foreign drivers (at least 21 years old) in Australia You must have an international driving permit (in English) and a national driving license with a certified translation into English, valid for the period of your stay in Australia for at least 3 subsequent years. Foreigners driving, in addition to a driver's license, are required to have a passport with a valid visa. Anyone over 21 years old (sometimes 25 years old) can rent a car. The minimum driving experience is 2 years.
The history of the names of each of the continents is very interesting. Why was Asia called Asia and Antarctica - Antarctica? The origin of some names is associated with ancient myths - the merit of the ancient Greeks in the etymology of many words, including their own names, is very great. For example, Europe is a mythical heroine that appeared thanks to the boundless imagination of the ancient Greeks, who created an incredible number of myths.
Why was Europe called Europe?
There are several versions. Here is one of the most common.
In ancient times, in the place where the state of Lebanon is located, Phenicia was located. According to ancient Greek myths, the god Zeus fell in love with an incredibly beautiful earthly woman named Europa. Historians suggest that the word “Europe” in Phoenician meant “set” (the word itself is most likely Assyrian).
Beauty Europa was the daughter of Agenor, king of Phenicia. The Thunderer Zeus wanted to make Europe his wife, but King Agenor would not allow this. Zeus had no choice but to kidnap the beauty.
Having turned into a white bull, Zeus stole Europa and transported her to the island of Crete. Later, according to some myths, Europa became the wife of the Cretan king. Therefore, the inhabitants of Crete began to call their land Europe.
“The Rape of Europe”, V. Serov, 1910
In the 5th century BC, the name Europe spread to all of Greece. Gradually, gaining new knowledge about the world around them and traveling more and more, ancient people pushed back the borders of Europe. And only in the middle of the 18th century were the final boundaries of Europe established, which are also marked on modern geographical maps.
Perhaps this is exactly what happened, and Europe was called Europe in honor of the heroine of ancient Greek myths. In any case, this is a very interesting and curious version.
Why was Asia called Asia?
The name “Asia” as applied to the continent also appeared thanks to the ancient Greeks and their myths. However, the word “Asia” itself is Assyrian, translated as “sunrise”. Now it’s clear why the largest part of the world was called Asia, because that’s where the sun rises.
The word “Asia” among the Assyrians was just a word, but it became the name of a part of the world thanks to the Greeks. In ancient Greek mythology there is a titan god named Ocean. Asia (Asia) is his oceanid daughter, whom the Greeks themselves depicted riding a camel. In her hands she had a shield and a box of aromatic spices. In some versions of myths, Asia is the mother (and in some - the wife) of Prometheus himself - the very hero who brought fire to people.
G. Dore "Oceanids", 1860
The ancient Greeks began to call everything east of Europe and closer to the place where the sun rises Asia. The Scythians, who lived beyond the Caspian Sea, were called Asians by the Greeks. And the ancient Romans, by the way, called the inhabitants of their eastern province Asians.
When the period of great geographical discoveries began, it was decided to use the word “Asia” to designate vast areas of land located closer to sunrise (that is, to the east). Thus, we owe the appearance on the map of a part of the world called Asia to the Assyrians and ancient Greeks.
Did ancient Greek mythology influence the name of any other part of the world? Yes! And this part of the world is Antarctica.
How did Antarctica get its name?
Antarctica is a derivative of the word "Antarctica". The southern polar region was called Antarctica. Translated from Greek, Antarctica means “opposite to the Arctic,” because the name “Arctic” appeared earlier as a designation for the area adjacent to the North Pole. It is the word “Arctic” that is directly related to ancient Greek mythology.
The Thunderer Zeus fell in love with the nymph Callisto, but the envious gods could not see how happy Zeus and Callisto were and turned the pregnant woman into a bear. After this she gave birth to a son. Arkad, that was the name of his son (in Greek, bear is arktos), grew up without a mother. One day, while hunting, he swung a spear at his mother bear Callisto (of course, he did not know who she was). Seeing this, Zeus turned both dear creatures into constellations - this is how Ursa Major and Ursa Minor appeared.
These constellations helped to find the polar star, which always pointed north. Therefore, the ancient Greeks began to call the entire northern region the Arctic. Then the name Antarctica (the opposite of the Arctic) appeared. Well, later the word Antarctica arose - a sixth of the world, the southern continent at the very pole of the Earth.
This part of the world was discovered by Russian sailors under the command of Thaddeus Bellingshausen on January 28, 1820. True, this is the official date - it was then that the sailors saw the “ice continent”. A year later, the sailors saw the shore and called this area the Land of Alexander the First. However, this name never spread to the entire continent, which eventually received the name Antarctica, associated with ancient Greece.
So, three parts of the world - Europe, Asia and Antarctica - got their names thanks to ancient Greek myths. But how did the names of other parts of the world and continents appear?
Even children know that America was discovered by Christopher Columbus. Then why was this part of the world not called Colombia or Columbia? And what is the origin of the name America?
Christopher Columbus, of course, discovered America, but he himself did not know that he had discovered a new part of the world, believing that the land on the other side of the Atlantic was China (Catay, as it was called in the time of Columbus).
Columbus still became famous for centuries. But much less often they talk about the Florentine navigator, who lived at the same time as Columbus, but was younger than him. Amerigo made four trips to the western shores of the Atlantic Ocean, but historians consider two of them nothing more than a hoax. However, at least one journey actually took place - Amerigo made it in 1501-1502 to the shores of Brazil.
Upon returning, Amerigo Vespucci began to colorfully describe the progress of the trip and his impressions, sending these notes in letters to his friends and the banker Lorenzo Medici. After some time, Vespucci's letters were published and were a great success among readers.
Vespucci himself proposed to name the land he discovered New World, but in 1507, a Lorraine cartographer named Martin Waldseemuller decided to put a new land on the map and name it in honor of the “discoverer” - Amerigo Vespucci. After all, reading Amerigo’s notes, many came to the conclusion that Vespucci discovered some new continent that had nothing to do with China, discovered by Columbus on the other side of the Atlantic.
However, not much time passed, and geographers and cartographers concluded that both Columbus and Vespucci discovered the same continent. Cartographers left the name for it “ America", dividing it into North and South.
Thus, already in 1538, North America and South America appeared on the maps. However, until the end of the 17th century, that is, another two and a half centuries, these lands in Europe continued to be called the New World. But, as we know, the name America was officially recognized.
Stefan Zweig called this whole story a comedy of errors, and A. Humboldt dubbed the very name of this part of the world “a monument to human injustice.” It’s not for nothing that they say that Columbus had alternate luck: “he went to discover one thing, found another, but what he found was given the name of a third.”
Australia, the fifth continent, was discovered at the beginning of the 17th century by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon. Since then, this part of the world has appeared on geographical maps, but under the name New Holland. However, the boundaries of the continent were unknown at that time. How Australia name
changed its own, ceasing to be just New Holland?
Australia. Photo from space
The answer must be sought in the depths of centuries. People started talking about Australia long before it was discovered. Even the great Ptolemy was sure that in the southern hemisphere there is a huge continent that should “balance” the planet. The mysterious land, which either exists or doesn’t exist, has been given a conventional name Terra Australis Incognita, which translated from Latin means “Mysterious (or Unknown) Southern Land.”
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the British were actively searching for the Mysterious South Land or New Holland. And finally, James Cook and Matthew Flinders, having completed several voyages, contributed to the appearance of the shores of the fifth continent on the maps.
Flinders was the first to circumnavigate the mainland. He wrote that he was constrained by the name Terra Australis (Southern Land), but with great pleasure he would have called the continent differently -. So, with the light hand of Flinders, this continent began to be called Australia, because the option proposed by the navigator seemed very, very successful to cartographers and geographers.
Why is Africa called Africa?
There is no exact and only accepted answer to this question. There are many theories, each of which has the right to life. Let's give just a few.
How the name “Africa” appeared: the first version. The name "Africa" was invented by the Greco-Romans. The territory of North Africa west of Egypt was long called Libya by the ancient Greeks and Romans because it was inhabited by tribes whom the Romans called “Livs.” Everything south of Libya was called Ethiopia.
In 146 BC, Rome defeated Carthage. A colony was founded on the territory captured as a result of the war, where Tunisia is now located. This colony was given the name “Africa”, since local warlike Afarik tribes lived in these places. According to another theory, the inhabitants of Carthage themselves called people who did not live in cities with the word “afri,” which is supposedly derived from the Phoenician afar (dust). The Romans, after defeating Carthage, used the word "afri" to name the colony. Gradually, all other lands of this continent began to be called Africa.
The ruins of one of the cities of the state of Carthage
How the name “Africa” came about: version two. The name "Africa" was invented by the Arabs. Arab geographers have long known that Asia and Africa are separated from each other by the Red Sea. The Arabic word "faraqa" is translated as "to divide", "to separate one from the other."
From the word farak, the Arabs formed the word “Ifriqiya” - this is what they called the fourth continent (the ancient name can be translated as “Separated”). The famous Arab scholar of the 16th century, Muhammad al-Wazan, wrote about this. Later, Ifriqiya turned into Africa, which was due to the peculiarities of borrowing foreign names in different languages.
And also find out whether it is really and true that The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -