Australia’s

Geographical

Dimensions

Intr

oduct

ion

In this chapter we look at

Australia’s geographical

dimensions. We compare

its relative size and shape

with other continents and

countries, and locate and

recognise Australia on a

world map using latitude

and longitude. We also

explain the origins of the

continent from an Aboriginal and geographical perspective.

1.1

AU

STR

ALI

A’S

G

EO

GR

APH

ICA

L D

IMEN

SIO

NS

This chapter refers to

the size of Australia and the other continents and mainly

how big each one is compared to the others. Geofacts Australia is the smallest of the

seven continents of the world.

Australia is the sixth-largest

country. Australia is the largest island in

the world. The population of Australia grew

to over 20 million people in 2003.

1.2

LO

CATIN

G

AU

STRA

LIA

This chapter focuses on where

Australia is but also on longitude

and latitude; what they are and

how to use them. Australia is located in the

southern hemisphere, which it

shares with the continents of

Africa, South America and

Antarctica, as well as many

islands in the South Atlantic and

South Pacific oceans. We also

refer to Australia as being

located in the eastern

hemisphere, which it shares with

East Asia and South Asia, New

Zealand, the Pacific Islands and

part of Antarctica.

1.3

OR

IGIN

S O

F TH

E

CO

NTIN

EN

T: A

BO

RIG

INA

L PER

SPEC

TIV

E

1.3 is about how the continent

came to be the way it is; from

the aboriginal perspective. It

talks about dreamtime

Geofacts From archaeological sites, we

know that Indigenous people

have lived in Australia for at

least 40 000 years. This is a very

long time compared to the time

that Europeans have lived in

Australia. Think of a clock — if

Indigenous people have lived

here for one hour, Europeans

have been here for only 15

seconds.

1.4

OR

IGIN

S O

F TH

E

CO

NTIN

EN

T: G

EO

GRA

PHIC

AL

PER

SPEC

TIV

E

This chapter also talks

about how Australia came to be the way it is

but this chapter focuses

on the geographical version. It is saying that

the continents were all

once joined to make one

big continent, Pangea,

and over time they separated to make all

the different continents.

1.5

TEC

TO

NIC

PR

OC

ESSES

AN

D V

OLC

AN

IC A

CTIV

ITY

This chapter talks about tectonic plates

and what they do, how

they affect the planet.

It also talks about how

volcanoes and mountains are formed.

It talks about those things focusing on Australia and past geological activity.

1.6

IM

PAC

TS O

F C

HA

NG

ING

CLI

MATES A

ND

SEA

LEV

ELS

Geo facts•Australia is the continent

with the lowest average

elevation. The average

altitude of the Australian

landmass is only 300 meters.

North America has an

average elevation of 790

meters. • Only 0.5 per cent of the

Australian continent is above

1000 meters.This chapter talks about how

time and climate has affected

the sea levels

Bro

adsh

eet:

A

ust

ralia

Ove

rvie

w

This is just a bunch of

questions related to the different parts throughout chapter 1.

It is also trying to summarize the chapter at the same

time.