1. Where Australian’s Live…
Location, Climate, & Natural Resources in Australia

2. Location Of Australia Both a continent & a country
Lies about 2,000 miles southeast of Asia
In the southern hemisphere
Literally the “land down under”!

3. Location Coastal areas are the most populated
Most people live along east coast
Most populated city is Sydney, in New South Wales
Another populated city: Brisbane, Queensland

4. Location Nearly 80% of Australians live in urban areas
Australia is one of the world’s most urbanized countries
70% of all Australians live in cities of more than 100,000 people
Sydney has 3 1/2 million people
Melbourne has about 3 million people

5. Climate of Australia Varies across the continent
It’s south of the equator, so climate is opposite North America:
Summer: December through March
Winter: June through September

6. Climate: North Australia
Northern part of Australia is closest to the equator
Tropical climate and is warm-to-hot all year round
Gets more rain than any other part of the country
Winter: wet and cool
Summer: hot and dry

7. Climate: Central Australia
Desert is the largest part of Australia
OUTBACK!!
Little rain falls here
Most of this area gets less than 10 inches of rain per year!

8. Climate: Coasts
Only the southeast and southwest corners have a temperate climate
Summers aren’t too hot & winters aren’t too cold (similar to Georgia)
Climate in these regions is the one that Australians prefer the most
Most Australians live along southeastern coast

9. Natural Resources of Australia
Outback refers to the dry interior
Mainly open countryside, including vast expanses of grazing land
Few widely scattered settlements in the outback
Many of them grew up around mining operations…

10. Natural Resources: Mining
Australians mine for coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, zinc, oil, and natural gas
Lead the world in the production of diamonds, lead, & bauxite (used to make aluminum)!

11. Natural Resources: Mining
Minerals are often found in areas that are difficult to reach
Roads are expensive to build, but they are needed to get workers & equipment to remote locations
Expensive equipment is needed to move minerals to populated cities to trade

12. Natural Resources: Arable Land
Land that is good for farming
Enough areas with good land and rainfall to make farming an important business in Australia
Farmers here produce more than Australians can consume, so the food is traded and sold around the world

13. Questions to Consider:
Where do most Australians live?
What important business is done in the outback?
Why do most Australians live in southeastern Australia?
Most people live in cities
mining
Climate is not too hot or too cold

14. Postcard Directions:
Front: Illustration of your favorite Australian destination (must be colorful!)
Back: Write a greeting to one of your friends that describes Australia. Be sure to include:
Location
Climate
Land
Resources