Author(s): Kate Turner; Elaine Stratford (Consultant Editor); Joseph Powell (Consultant Editor); National Geographic Kids Staff

Travel

National Geographic welcomes you to Australia, the only country that's also a continent:

- Australia's landscape varies from endless sun-baked horizons to dense tropical rainforest to chilly southern beaches.
- The Commonwealth of Australia is a constitutional monarchy and has a parliamentary system of government.
- Australia's population has quadrupled since WWI, with most Australians descended from immigrants, the majority from Great Britain and Ireland.
- The indigenous population is also increasing, and perceived racial inequality is an ongoing political problem.
- With a robust internationally competitive economy, long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.