Australia
Country encompassing the continent of Australia and the island of Tasmania. It is the sixth largest country in the world. It became an independent member of the British Commonwealth in 1931. Languages: English. Currency: Australian dollar. Capital: Canberra. Population: 21,262,641 (2009 estimate). Area: 7,692,024 sq km (2,969,907 sq mi) Official Name: Commonwealth of Australia. Major Cities: Canberra Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest Australian city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), 280 km (170 mi) south-west of Sydney, and 660 km (410 mi) north-east of Melbourne. The site of Canberra was selected for the location of the nation's capital in 1908 as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities. It is unusual among Australian cities, being an entirely planned city. Following an in...