Australia. This is not just a country, but a whole continent! She 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 shaped over millennia, colorful landscapes and unrepeatable landmarks - this is what makes this distant continent so attractive. Let's take a short journey together on the most interesting and amazing facts from the history of this "green continent".
Read how to apply for a visa to Australia yourself in our life hack.
Who is more?
We have all heard about the most amazing animals in Australia - the kangaroo. But not everyone knows that the number of these mammals on the continent is three times the number of people living.
Just 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 wealthy country. In terms of living standards of the population, the country is in the top ten. Few people know that the 50 cent Australian coin contained silver for a total of two Australian dollars. Later, they decided to get rid of such extravagance. Australia also boasts the largest tramway network. The record holder in this regard is the city of Melbourne.
Australian farms produce approximately 20 million tonnes of wheat annually. If we compare this figure with the population, then there will be one ton for each citizen. What was surprising about that? But the figure will seem impressive if you know that only 3.6% of Australia's working-age population is permanently involved in agriculture. Here is such a high labor productivity!
National characteristics
As already mentioned, the standard of living of Australians is quite high. Accordingly, the state also provides considerable support. For example, the amount of benefits for large families is one of the largest in the world. If there are 4-5 children in a family, then the total amount of state aid will easily allow parents to quit their jobs and devote themselves entirely to their beloved children.
But the health care system looks extremely strange. If in Russia a doctor is obliged to come to every call, then on the "green continent" the ambulance does not visit patients' homes. Ill - get ready and go to the doctor yourself! At the same time, Australians are distinguished by good health and live a long time.
And, of course, the real surprise, especially among visitors from the CIS countries, is caused by mountains of household appliances and other "goodness" that can be found almost at every home. Australians display items they do not need, and anyone can pick them up for free.
If you didn’t come to the polls, be prepared to pay a hefty fine. Casting your vote for a candidate or party is the sacred duty of every Australian.
What makes Australia unique?
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 car manufacturer. Holden cars can be found here at every step. Today the company is part of the well-known European brand - General Motors. It is very easy to buy a car - "steel horses" are inexpensive, as well as the necessary insurance. By the way, the movement on the continent is left-hand. It is also worth knowing that the price of gasoline is constantly changing. Perhaps Australia is the only country where the cost of car fuel on weekdays and weekends varies dramatically.
On the continent there are many features of the everyday plan. For example, electrical outlets here are different in shape from European and American ones. And all electrical appliances are designed to operate in 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. Mixers familiar to us are very rare here.
The highest paid specialists are considered to be engineers and doctors. The average salary for professionals is between 70,000 and 130,000 Australian dollars. By the way, the Australian dollar has the same value as the American one. 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.
