Fact 1: Australia has the world's largest sand island
Australia is home to Fraser Island, which is recognised as the world's largest sand island, covering about 1,630 square kilometres. It's a World Heritage site and a place of exceptional beauty, with long uninterrupted white beaches flanked by strikingly colourful sand cliffs.
Fact 2: Unique Ecosystem
Australia has more unique species of wildlife than any other country in the world. It is home to 83% of mammals, 89% of reptiles, and 93% of amphibians that cannot be found anywhere else. This remarkable biodiversity includes iconic creatures like kangaroos, koalas, and the duck-billed platypus.
Fact 3: World's largest coral reef system
Australia boasts the Great Barrier Reef, the earth's largest coral reef system. The site is so significant that it can be seen from outer space. It is home to more than 400 types of coral and supports over 1,500 species of tropical fish.
Fact 4: Countless Fascinating Places
According to Guinness World Records, Australia has the most number of places in the world with rude, silly or strange names. You can plan a journey from Mt. Disappointment, head over to Useless Loop and finally settle in Nowhere Else.
Fact 5: The Largest Population of Camel Exports
Despite being associated commonly with the Middle East or Sahara Desert, Australia surprisingly exports camels to Saudi Arabia. Australian feral camels are descendants of animals imported in the 19th and early 20th centuries and the industry is surprisingly lucrative.
Fact 6: A Haven for Pink Lakes
Lake Hillier in Australia is famous for its vibrant pink hue. Its unique colour is due to the presence of an organism named Dunaliella salina. It is one of the few naturally occurring pink lakes in the world and a remarkable sight to behold.
Fact 7: The Aussie Salute
“The Aussie Salute” refers to the Australians' way of swatting flies away. As they have an abundance of flies in certain regions during the hotter months, the "Aussie salute" has become a humorous national symbol.
Fact 8: It Contains the World's Oldest Living Civilization
Australia is home to the world's oldest living civilisation, that of the Aboriginal Australians, who have been inhabiting the continent for over 65,000 years.
Fact 9: Infamous Rabbit-Proof Fence
In an effort to control rabbit plagues, Australia constructed the world's longest fence in the 1880s. Dubbed the Rabbit-Proof Fence, at its peak it stretched over 2,023 miles from the south to the north coast of Western Australia.
Fact 10: Australia Has More Than 10,000 Beaches
More than 10,000 beaches stretch along Australia’s coastline. You could visit a new beach every day for more than 27 years if you wished!
Fact 11: The Great Emu War
In 1932, Australian troops were disastrously defeated by emus invading the Western Australian region. This event humorously became known as the Great Emu War.
Fact 12: Snowfall in Australia?
Contrary to popular belief, Australia has more snowfall than Switzerland. The Australian Alps, stretching across New South Wales and Victoria, receive more snow annually than Switzerland.
Fact 13: World's Largest Rock
The world's largest rock, Mount Augustus, is located in Australia. It is twice as large as Uluru (Ayers Rock), another famous Australian landmark.
Fact 14: Population Vs. Sheep
Australia has an estimated population of 25 million people and approximately 75 million sheep. That’s three times the number of people!
Fact 15: It Used to be a Penal Colony
From the late 18th to the mid-19th century, Australia was primarily used as a penal colony. Over 162,000 convicts were transported by the British government to various penal colonies in Australia.
Fact 16: Atomic Tests in South Australia
Between 1956 and 1963, the British conducted atomic bomb tests in South Australia at Maralinga. This area remains partially off-limits due to radioactive contamination even today.
Fact 17: A Dingo Fence Longer than the Great Wall of China
Australia has a dingo fence that stretches over 5,600 kilometres, making it longer than the Great Wall of China, with the aim to protect fertile land from these wild dogs.
Fact 18: The Birthplace of Famous Celebrities
Australia has produced many famous personalities, including actors Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Chris Hemsworth, and Margot Robbie. Renowned singers like Sia and Kylie Minogue also hail from Australia.
Fact 19: Australia's Size
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world by total area and the largest island. Incredibly, the country is almost as large as the United States, but it's population is more comparable to that of New York State.
Fact 20: The wine capital of the world
Australia is considered one of the world's largest wine exporters, producing an average of 1.25 billion litres of wine annually. The Barossa Valley in South Australia is one of its most internationally-acclaimed wine regions.