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30 Facts About Australia
In the midst of preparing for our upcoming trip to Australia, we discovered a few astonishing facts about the land down under. And we decided to share them, because we are more generous than that friend who always lets you eat the embarrassing croquette or the last slice of pizza. A minute of silence for all of them, few but good friends. Alright, let's continue... here are 30 curiosities about Australia.
- Australia is a huge country, specifically the sixth largest in the world, measuring about 3,625 km from one end to the other, roughly the distance from Barcelona to Moscow. In fact, all of Europe could fit within Australian borders.
- On the other hand, it is one of the least populated countries in the world, with approximately 24 million inhabitants (an average of 2.66 people per square kilometer), which means that, like in New Zealand, there are more sheep than people.
- I wish there were only a lot of sheep... among the Australian wildlife are some of the most dangerous animals in the world. Some examples include a jellyfish whose venom can kill in minutes, freshwater and saltwater crocodiles (yes, you read that correctly, salt-water), venomous snakes and spiders, and even killer bees. Talk about a joy for cowards like us.
- Fortunately, not everything is deadly among Australian wildlife; there are also some rare, curious, and beautiful species. We're talking about koalas (who spend their lives sleeping and eating), kangaroos, quokkas, and wombats, the latter of which produce cube-shaped feces-true story.
- By the way, eucalyptus leaves (the only food for koalas) are toxic! Those adorable little furballs are so lazy that they prefer not to find food that any other animal wants-thanks, evolution!
- Did you know that there are wild camels in Australia? Yes, and they number in the millions _
- Another interesting fact (not so much if you think about the fact that the interior of Australia is practically desert) is that 85% of its inhabitants live within 5 km of the coast.
- Australia prides itself on being one of the most progressive countries in the world: here, in 1856, women were able to exercise their right to vote (only New Zealand preceded them). It was also a pioneer of the 8-hour workday: after persistent protests from miners, to avoid escalating rebellion as seen in the United States, the British Crown granted workers what they wanted. It was 1858. In Spain, this right was won in 1919.
- ... But not everything is progress in the land down under. In 1901, an Immigration Restriction Act was signed. The underlying idea was to prevent immigration from 'non-white' countries. In other words, it was a straightforward policy of racial exclusion! Starting in 1950, things began to change, and Australia opened its doors to the first exchange students from Asia. However, it wasn't until 1973 that the government ruled that anyone, regardless of origin, could apply for residency/citizenship (as long as they met certain requirements, of course).
- Nevertheless, the dark stain on Australian history was the mistreatment of the indigenous inhabitants (Aborigines). Long story short: the Aborigines, the oldest living culture on Earth, were decimated by diseases brought by the 'white man.' The survivors were confined to the country's interior, sent to lands that the new colonizers 'didn't want.' Adding alcohol and a significant psychological, cultural, and existential crisis to the mix, well... things have not been easy for this ancient population. It's incredible, but until 1967 they were not even recognized as citizens, and they couldn't access education, work, or own the land that belonged to them.
- Over 400 different ethnic groups of Aborigines are known. In total numbers, before the British arrived, there were millions. Today, there are just over half a million (which is only 3% of the population). In 2008, the Australian government apologized for the genocide, because that's what it was.
- And don't think the situation of Aborigines is much better today... They receive subsidies (money patches the problem, it doesn't solve it) that allow them to (barely) survive, but the obstacles they face are many: from poor health conditions to alcoholism, and generally a lack of opportunity to readapt to the new society that dominates their territory. Today, 32% of Aborigines live in major Australian cities on the East Coast, 45% live in regional areas, and 25% in the interior.
- As we mentioned, Australia finally 'opened' to the world, and today approximately 30% of its inhabitants were not born there. It is one of the most cosmopolitan countries in the world, and in Melbourne, for example, there exists the largest Greek community outside of Greece, of course XD. However, as we have already seen in New Zealand, being a cosmopolitan country guarantees coexistence but not integration.
That said... not everything is bad news or criticism. So let's continue with some more positive curiosities about Australia
- Its cuisine may not have a great reputation abroad, but Australians are passionate about good food and have managed to integrate Asian and European recipes and flavors into local products and dishes.
- And yes, it is true that they eat kangaroo meat 0_o
- One product they are very proud of (which we tried in New Zealand and almost died of disgust) is Vegemite, a savory spread that tastes like a bouillon cube.
- Australia has several wine regions where high-quality wine is produced. That said, the wine here is as good as it is expensive.
- The largest living organism in Australia is the Great Barrier Reef. Are we going to see it? Let's hope so!
- Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, and it's right under the ozone hole. That means one thing: the sun's rays are much more dangerous than anywhere else in the world, so you know... sunscreen is a must!
- The Australian accent and slang have nothing to do with British or American English. In fact, there are some completely different words.
- About 60% of Australians are overweight. So, if you think the typical Aussie is a surfer with double abs (of surfing and stomach), mmm, your expectations might not be very realistic.
- Speaking of abs, Australians do know how to make chocolate. They may not be Swiss, but this is the home of Tim Tam, which is an absolute delight.
- Melbourne consistently ranks among the best cities to live in.
- Tasmania boasts having the cleanest air in the world. And speaking of Tasmania: no, the Tasmanian devil doesn't spin when it gets angry; it just screams like crazy!
- Canberra, the capital of Australia, was created in 1908 to avoid a nasty fight between Sydney and Melbourne over which city should have that privilege.
- Okay, Australia has the most dangerous animals in the world, but let's calm down because the statistics (with the statistics) are not that catastrophic. In other words, yes, you have a chance of dying, but the animal that kills the most in Australia is the horse! And if you don't believe me, check out this post.
- One of the most well-known curiosities of Australia is that during its colonization history (from 1787 to 1868), thousands upon thousands of prisoners from the British Crown were sent there (over 150,000 estimated). Although this is a true fact, these prisoners were guilty of minor crimes (stealing food or insurrection against the government). On the uniforms of the prisoners was the acronym POME (Prisoners of Mother England), which is why Australians call the British 'pommies.'
- Australia has over 10,000 beaches (and one of them, Hyams Beach, is the beach with the whitest sand in the world).
- Do you know what the word kangaroo means? It is said that James Cook asked an Aboriginal about that strange animal that jumped non-stop, and he replied 'kangaroo,' which literally means 'I don't understand.' Well, it's a lie! It's an urban legend, a nice story but false!
- Be that as it may, the kangaroo is one of the most recognized symbols of Australia, and along with the emu, it appears on the Australian coat of arms. Why? Both animals cannot walk backward, which is a perfect metaphor: Australia is a country that can only move forward!
That concludes our 30 curiosities about Australia... although we promise to add things that catch our attention once we are in the land Down Under (and of course, we owe you a post with tips and useful information for traveling cheaply in one of the countries known for being the most expensive).