2.  Surrounded by water  Uluru-Large rock formation

3.  Great Barrier Reef- Off of Australia’s northeast coast, world’s largest coral reef  Fact: The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest reef system  Fact: Thirty species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises have been recorded in the Great Barrier Reef  Fact: Six species of sea turtles come to the reef to breed  Fact: 215 species of birds (including 22 species of seabirds and 32 species of shorebirds) visit the reef or nest or roost on the islands  Fact: Seventeen species of sea snake live on the Great Barrier Reef  Fact: More than 1,500 fish species live on the reef

5.  Resources: World’s top producer of bauxite and lead

6.  Aborigines settled Australia 40,000 years ago

7.  Captain Cook landed in Australia in 1770 and claimed for British  Many Aborigines died of European diseases

8.  Became independent in 1931

9.  Member of British Commonwealth of Nations  British monarch is head of state  Parliamentary Democracy

10.  Agriculture important  Top producers of wool

11.  Diverse population  Sydney and Melbourne large cities  90% urban

12.  North Island-Hills, volcanoes, geysers, and hot springs.

13.  South Island- Southern Alps, thick forests, deep lakes, and glaciers

14.  Resources: wool, timber, and gold

15.  Maori settled 1,200 years ago

16.  Captain Cook landed in New Zealand in 1769 and claimed for British  British and Maori fought over land

17.  Became independent in 1931

18.  British monarch is head of state  Parliamentary Democracy

19.  Agriculture important  Leading producer of wool

20.  Diverse population  Most live on North Island  90% urban