14 facts about Australia that you most likely didn't know

What do you know about Australia except Sydney and a kangaroo? Test yourself and learn something new.

Australia is the smallest continent in the world, but at the same time the sixth largest country in the world. The British colonized Australia only at the beginning of the 18th century, and the continent's indigenous population lives here more than 40,000 years. With such a long history, Australia simply can not be uninteresting. Let's learn more about it.

The great barrier reef is the world's largest coral reef has its own private Inbox, from which visitors can send ecards. It is located on the reef of Agincourt.

1828 1902 in Australia was forbidden to swim at the beach for the day. This law was first broken by some man on manly beach. The offender was arrested, but not charged, prompting the others to follow his example.

The Sydney Opera house was designed by architect Jorn Utzon, who won the competition in 1957. His project was recognized as the best of the 233 of options provided to the jury.

Because of its size and the harsh desert climate which reigns in most parts of the continent Australia occupies the 9th place in the list of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. The population density of 3.07 people per 1 sq. km.

In Australia, more than 10,000 beaches. You can every day to go to different beaches for 27 years and still not visit all the beaches of the continent.

See also — Soviet youth of the 60s on the beach: photos by bill Eppridge

Australia three times the size of Greenland, which is the largest island in the world. But Australia is not included in the list of Islands because it is well known that it is a separate continent.

The world's largest population of camels is in Australia. About 750 000 camels roam Australian wasteland, and often wander on the farm of local residents.

In Melbourne the largest population of Greeks outside of Greece. In 2001 in Melbourne lived 151 785 Australian Greeks.

From Queensland to South Australia stretches the Dingo fence is the longest in the world (5613 km). As you might guess from the name, it was built to Dingo didn't run on pasture.

Australia argues that ugg boots first appeared here (New Zealand with this statement I do not agree). Say, this comfortable shoes are worn in rural Australia in the 1920‑ies. However popular in Australia brand "UGG" — in fact, an American company.

The red kangaroo and EMU are on the Australian coat of arms. They were chosen due to the universal belief, that neither the kangaroo nor the EMU can't move backwards, symbolising the country's progress forward.

The national gemstone of Australia opal. The country produces 97% of the world's supply of this mineral, mostly mined in South Australia.

Despite the fact that Australia beef exports to many markets around the world, the largest importers of Australian beef in the US, Korea and Japan.

According to data for 2013, with 27.7% of the Australian population were born abroad. For comparison, in the United States, this rate is 14.3%.