Which is the Smallest Continent in the World: Australia?

Laeli Yang August 13, 2024 | 10:09

Have you ever thought about taking a bus tour across your continent? Doesn't make sense, does it? But since Australia is the world's smallest continent, you might want to give it a try when you visit this beautiful place.

Which is the Smallest Continent in the World: Australia?

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Of all the places in the world, Australia is one of the most developed and lived-in. It's the world's smallest continent, but it's known for its beautiful beaches, lush national parks, unique wildlife, and lively cities.

The water around Australia makes it an island, but it's also big enough to be called a continent. This makes Australia the biggest island in the world, even though it's actually a continent after all.

Why Is Australia The Smallest Continent In The World?

Land Area

The continent of Australia has the least amount of land area of any continent in the world. It covers a total area of 2,967,909 square miles (7,686,884 square kilometers), which is a little less than both the country of Brazil and the United States. Keep in mind, though, that this number includes the small island nations that are all around it in the Pacific Zone.

As the second smallest continent, Europe covers 3,997,929 square miles (10,354,636 square kilometers), which is almost a million square miles more than the smallest continent, Antarctica, which covers 5,500,000 square miles (14,245,000 square kilometers).

Is Australia A Country Or A Continent?

Continue reading the article below to find out more information about Australia and get the answer to your question, "Is Australia a country or continent?"

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Population

In terms of population, Australia is the second-smallest continent in the world. If we don't count Antarctica, Australia is the smallest continent. Because of this, we could say that Australia is also the least populated continent. In the end, only 4,000 researchers stay in Antarctica for the summer, while only 1,000 stay for the winter.

Based on Worldometer's analysis of the most recent UN data, Australia has a population of 26,743,072 as of Monday, August 12, 2024. The number of people living in Australia is equal to 0.33 percent of the world's total population. Australia has the 55th most people of all the countries and dependencies on the list. Australia has 3 people per km2 (9 people per mi2) of land area.

Interesting Facts About Australia

*Australia is also the largest country without land borders and the world's six-largest country on earth.

*Australia is also known as an 'island continent' as it is surrounded by water on all sides.

*The official name of Australia is the Commonwealth of Australia.

*The continent of Australia is often called Sahul, Australinea or Meganesia to differentiate it from the country of Australia

*Australia lies entirely on the south of the equator and if often called the country "down under".

*The name Australia comes from the Latin word 'australis' meaning 'southern'.

*Of all the continents in the world, Australia stands at the top of wool production and import. This is because the sheep population in the world's smallest continent is 14 times that of its human population

*Austria is home to over 500 varieties of eucalyptus trees.

*Two-thirds of Australia is desert land.

*The world's largest coral reef -- the Great Barrier Reef -- is around 2000 kilometres long.

*The unique animals of Australia are -- kangaroo, emu, platypus.

Australia and Oceania

Australia is in second place, with just over 40 million people living there. New Zealand is in Oceania.

There are islands in the Pacific Ocean that make up Oceania. It includes Australia and Papua New Guinea but not Indonesian New Guinea or the Malay Archipelago. But New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia are also in this group, along with the island of Hawaii in the United States and the Bonin Islands in Japan.

People often say "Australia and Oceania" instead of "Australia and Oceania" when they talk about this area in the southern Pacific. Also, the area that includes Australia and New Zealand is sometimes called Australiasia.

These definitions change a lot depending on how they are used. The UN definition of Oceania, which only includes Australia and "unclaimed" independent territories, is used for organized international relations and events like the Olympics. However, Indonesian ownership of part of New Guinea means that part of the country is not included in the definition of Oceania.

How Many Countries Are There In Oceania: Facts, Figures and Population

Do you know how many countries the Oceania has? What are the names of the countries?

A Brief History Of Australia

Captain James Cook - Financial Times

In terms of history, Australia was first inhabited by aboriginal people around 40,000 years ago. A lot of Europeans, like the Spanish, Dutch, and English, found and mapped the land during the Age of Exploration. Australia wasn't really explored, though, until 1770, when Captain James Cook sailed along the east coast and claimed it for Great Britain. It was called New South Wales by him.

Mountain ranges in Australia Captain Arthur Phillip set up the first colony in Sydney on January 26, 1788. At first, it was thought of as a prison colony. This was because a lot of the first settlers were bad guys. Britain would sometimes send criminals to the penal colony instead of jail. People often committed small crimes or made up crimes to get rid of people they didn't want to live there. As time went on, more and more of the settlers were not prisoners. People will still say from time to time that Australia began as a prison colony.

There were six colonies in Australia. They were New South Wales (1788), Tasmania (1825), Western Australia (1829), South Australia (1836), Victoria (1851), and Queensland (1859). In the end, these colonies turned into states that make up the Australian Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth of Australia was made when the British government passed an act on January 1, 1901. The Northern Territory joined the Commonwealth in 1911.

This was the first federal Parliament. It was opened by the Duke of York in Melbourne in May 1901. In the end, in 1927, the government and parliament moved to the city of Canberra. Together with the United States and Great Britain, Australia fought in both World Wars I and II.

Okay, enough with the history! Let's learn more about the famous sights in this wonderful country!

5 Best Destinations In Australia

Outsideonline

1. South Island, New Zealand

People who love the outdoors and want to take in New Zealand's stunning scenery will love the country's largest island. Great views await you whether you're hiking around Lake Tekapo, birdwatching on the Otago Peninsula, looking at the stars from the University of Canterbury's Mount John Observatory, diving in Milford Sound, or kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park. If you need a break from nature, visit the unique street art in Christchurch or the Larnach Castle in Dunedin, which was built in the 1800s.

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2. Tahiti

People come from all over the world to see Tahiti's stunning natural scenery, which includes everything from roaring waterfalls to tall mountains. This island in the South Pacific is part of French Polynesia. It has some unique beaches, like La Plage de Maui, which is near a shallow lagoon that's great for swimming and snorkeling, Papenoo Beach, which has black sand and is popular with surfers, and Taharuu Beach, which also has black sand and is popular with families.

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3. Sydney

Sydney is both a busy city and a calm beach town. Tourists can spend their days sunbathing at Bondi and Coogee beaches, going to museums in Darling Harbour, or climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Of course, Sydney has cool areas like The Rocks and fun events like Vivid Sydney (a music and neon light show) and the Festival of the Winds (a kite-flying party). If you want to see a concert or show at the famous Sydney Opera House, you should plan ahead.

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4. Great Barrier Reef

One of the most amazing natural sights in the world is without a doubt the Great Barrier Reef. Its sheer size and wide range of life always amaze people who visit. It's possible to see parts of the reef from the air, by boat, or by snorkeling or diving. Any way you do it, it will be an unforgettable vacation. Stay in Cairns to make it easy to get to the reef and the world's oldest living tropical rainforest.

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5. Melbourne

Melbourne is the second-largest city in the country. It doesn't have as much beach or sunshine as Sydney, but it makes up for it with coffee, culture, food, and sports. The Victorian capital is Australia's most worldly city. It has moody laneways lined with street art and hole-in-the-wall cafes, as well as arty shops and galleries, a modern dining scene, and sports. A lot of sports.

Best Ways To Visit Australia

Getbybus

By airplane

If you want to get around Australia quickly, flying is the best way to do it. Australia's domestic airlines, such as Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and Rex, fly to all capital cities and many regional cities. This makes it easy to get from one of Australia's famous spots to another. Because domestic airlines are competing with each other, you can find some great deals on tickets, especially if you book early.

By car

There are many well-kept roads in Australia, and some of the world's most beautiful road trips can be found there. Service stations and rest stops are set up at regular intervals for long trips.

You can rent a car at most major airports and in the middle of cities. Then, get on the highway in your car, 4WD, or caravan.

By public transport & Tourist bus service

Use public transportation and hop-on hop-off tourist buses to make getting around the city easier. The services are cheap (usually only a small fee for kids) and will take you to all the main attractions without you having to worry about where to park. Some services, like the City Circle Tram in Melbourne, are free! There are caps on weekly transport fares in Sydney. This means that no matter how often you use the network, you will never pay more than the maximum weekly fare. Buses, metros, trains, and trams are great ways to get around because most of them can fit strollers and people with other access needs.

Australiaforeveryone

By train

In Australia, there are beautiful rail journeys that go across the whole continent, like The Ghan and the Indian Pacific. These trips are comfortable and feel like old-fashioned romance. The Indian Pacific goes from Sydney to Perth, stopping at Broken Hill, Adelaide, and Kalgoorlie along the way. The legendary Ghan goes from Adelaide to Darwin, passing through Australia's Red Centre and tropical Top End.

By farry

The Spirit of Tasmania runs a ferry service between Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, and Devonport, Tasmania, every night. During busy times, there are extra services. Several times a day, SeaLink ferries go between Cape Jervis in South Australia (about 108 km/67 mi south of Adelaide) and Kangaroo Island. Also, in our capital cities, there are ferries that run on the Swan River in Perth, the Brisbane River, and the suburbs around Sydney Harbor.