In fact, it is the sixth largest country in the world, with 7.7 million square km, only surpassed by Russia, Canada, China, the United States and Brazil. But with 25.69 million inhabitants (2020 data) it is one of the most depopulated. As many as 28.5% of the population were born outside of Australia or have a parent who was born abroad. Melbourne is home to the largest Greek community on the entire planet.
2. It was colonized by… prisoners.
The British colonization of Australia included the sending of some 160,000 prisoners, between the end of the 18th century and well into the 19th century. It should be noted that they were accused of minor crimes, in some cases insurrection against the Crown. The uniforms read the acronym POME (Prisoners of Mother England). This is why the Australians call the British “pommies”.
3. Home to the largest herd of camels in the world.
Official estimates suggest that no less than 1 million of them roam the interior of the country. How was the figure arrived at? These animals were imported in the 19th century from Arabia, India and Afghanistan for transport and heavy work. But with the birth of the internal combustion engine, camels were no longer necessary and it was decided to release several of them into the wild.
4. A unique ecosystem.
Due to the long isolation from the rest of the world, which has to do with its very special geographical location, Australia has a unique ecosystem. It is that for centuries the inhabitants did not receive the visit of other civilizations. Reason why customs regulations are especially harsh and restrictive, not out of paranoia like other countries, but because they understand that the entry of species, animals, etc., strangers to the country, can especially affect it.
5. The name kangaroo, was not kangaroo.
According to legend, when European explorers asked the natives the name of this strange jumping animal, they answered in their language “kangaroo”, which means “I am not understanding you”. The visitors understood that this was the name of the animal, and it was baptized in this way. It is the typical Australian animal and emblem of the country.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
