Australia. This is not just a country, but a whole continent! It has always aroused great interest among sailors, travelers, and now – among tourists. Crowds of fans of kangaroos and other exotic animals flock from all over the world to Australia. A unique culture formed over thousands of years, colorful landscapes and unique sights – that's what makes this distant continent so attractive. Let's take a short journey together through the most interesting and amazing facts from the history of this “green continent”.
How to apply for a visa to Australia on your own read in our life hack.
Who more?
We have all heard about the most amazing animal in Australia – the kangaroo. But not everyone knows that the number of these mammals on the continent is three times the number of living people.
Only off the coast of Australia, 53 people died from shark teeth. These are the official statistics of the last fifty years. But Australian beaches are considered one of the most favorite places on the planet for surfers.
Australia is considered a rich country. In terms of the standard of living of the population, the country is in the top ten. Few people know that the 50 cent coin of Australia contained silver for a total of two Australian dollars. Later, they decided to get rid of such extravagance. Australia also boasts the largest network of tram rails. The record holder in this regard is the city of Melbourne.
An estimated 20 million tons of wheat are produced annually on Australian farms. If we compare this figure with the population, then there will be one ton for each citizen. It seemed that this is surprising? But the figure will seem impressive if you know that only 3.6% of the entire working-age population of Australia is involved in agriculture on a permanent basis. Here is such a high productivity!
National features
As already mentioned, the standard of living of Australians is quite high. Accordingly, the state also provides considerable support. For example, the size of benefits for families with many children is one of the largest in the world. If there are 4-5 children in a family, then the total amount of state assistance will easily allow parents to quit their jobs and devote themselves entirely to their beloved children.
But the healthcare system looks extremely strange. If in Russia a doctor is obliged to come to every call, then on the “green continent” ambulances do not visit patients at home. If you get sick – get ready and go to the doctor yourself! At the same time, Australians are distinguished by good health and live long lives.
And, of course, true surprise, especially among visitors from the CIS countries, is caused by mountains of household appliances and other “goods” that can be found in almost every home. Australians put things they don't need and anyone can pick them up for free.
If you don't come to the polls, get ready to pay a hefty fine. Casting your vote for a candidate or party is the sacred duty of every Australian.
What is unique about Australia?
Australia is considered one of the most attractive countries for immigration. More than half of the total population are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. The largest number of foreign citizens from Europe went to conquer a distant continent, fleeing the horrors of World War II.
Australia has a personal automaker. Holden cars can be found here at every step. Today the company is part of the well-known European brand – General Motors. Buying a car is very easy – “steel horses” are inexpensive, as well as the necessary insurance. By the way, traffic on the continent is left-handed. It is also worth knowing that the price of gasoline is constantly changing. Perhaps, Australia is the only country where the cost of automotive fuel on weekdays and weekends varies dramatically.
On the continent there are many features of the domestic plan. For example, electrical outlets here differ in shape from European and American ones. And all electrical appliances are designed to work on a 240 V network. In addition, each house has two separate taps – for hot and cold water. Rumor has it that this is a British tradition. Faucets familiar to us are a rarity here.
The highest paid specialists are considered to be engineers and doctors. The average salary of specialists ranges from 70 to 130 thousand Australian dollars. By the way, the Australian dollar has the same value as the US dollar. But shopping tours to Australia are not popular, because the cost of things is higher than in Europe, and the choice is much more modest.