| Location: |
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean |
| Population: |
21, 457, 000 |
| Area: |
Total: 7,686,850 sq km |
| Climate: |
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north |
| Terrain: |
mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast |
| Natural resources: |
bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum |
| Natural hazards: |
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts |
| Geography - note: |
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer |
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Travel Guide of Australia