|An Aboriginal Man Stands in Front of Uluru/Ayers Rock, Northern Territory|
Australia - the Land Down Under - is a diverse country with vast deserts, tropical reefs, rain forests, mountains, and unique plant and animal life.
Did You Know?
* There are 1500 species of Australian spiders and 6000 species of flies.
* Australia has the largest population of wild dromedary (one hump) camels.
* Australia has the world's largest cattle station (ranch) which is almost the size of Belgium.
* Australia is home to more than 100 species of unique marsupials; mammals that carry their young in a pouch.
* The Tasmanian devil is a carnivorous marsupial with the jaw strength of a crocodile.
* The Great Barrier Reef has a mailbox which you can get to by ferry.
* The Australian Alps, also known as the Snowy Mountains, receive more snow than Switzerland.
* Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world.
* There are an estimated 40 million kangaroos in Australia. Their meat is high in protein and low in fat.
* Scientists believe that indigenous Aborginal people have inhabited Australia for 50,000 years.
* Australia has only 23 million people, but 100 million sheep.
* Australia's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and used as a penal colony where convicted criminals were transported from 1788 through 1848. Today Australia is considered one of the safest places in the world.
* The Australian lyrebird is considered the world's best imitator, mimicing even the sounds of chainsaws and cameras. Click here
to view a BBC wildlife segment on the lyrebird with David Attenborough.