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australiaGreat DiviDinG ranGe
running along the eastern coast of the
continent from Cape York to Ballarat
is a 2,300 mile (3,700 km) mountain
chain called the Great Dividing range.
the tallest mountain is Kosciuszko,
at 7,310 ft (2,228 m). Other peaks are
much lower. the mountains divide
the fertile coastal plains from the dry
interior. the steep hills were once
a major barrier to travel; even today
only a few roads and railroads cross
from east to west.Ancient rock and
bark paintings show
that Aboriginal
culture flourished
nearly 40,000 years
before European
settlers arrived.Strip mininG
australia has huge mineral wealth, and
mining is an important industry. the
country produces one-third of the
world’s uranium, which is essential
for nuclear power. in recent years,
iron ore has been excavated in large
strip mines where giant digging
machines remove entire hills.Outback ranchers
ride motorcycles or
horses to round up
cattle and sheep.OutBaCK
very few people live in australia’s interior,
called the outback. However, sheep and cattle
are farmed on the dry land. Some ranches, called
stations, cover hundreds of square miles. Because of the
great distances, outback australians live isolated lives
and communicate by radio.Tasmania
the island of tasmania lies off the
southeastern coast of australia and is a
state in itself with a population of nearly
half a million. the island has a cooler,
damper climate than the rest of the
country and is famous for its fruit,
vegetables, and sheep. tin, silver, and
other products are mined. much of
western tasmania is unpopulated and
covered in dense forest where native
wildlife, such as the tasmanian devil,
below, survives in large numbers.The Three
Sisters formation
in New South Wales
belongs to the
Great Dividing Range.uluru (aYerS rOCK)
One of the most impressive natural sights
in australia is uluru (formerly known as ayers
rock). this huge mass of sandstone stands in
the middle of a wide, flat desert and is 1,142 ft
(335 m) high. although it lies hundreds of
miles from the nearest town, uluru is a major
tourist attraction with its own hotel. the rock
is particularly beautiful at sunset, when it
seems to change color.US_054_AUSTRALIA_2.indd 54 20/01/16 4:33 pm