Australia

Officially the Commonwealth of Australia, it is the smallest continent and the sixth largest country on Earth (slightly smaller than the contiguous 48 states of the U.S.). Australia lies between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. The population is concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; and regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer.

Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum

Population: 19,357,594

Languages: English, native languages

Capital: Canberra

Independence: January 1, 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

National holiday: Australia Day, January 26 (1788)