Australia's water network is poor. This is due to the fact that most of the mainland receives little precipitation and there is no high mountains and . Therefore, on the mainland, significant areas do not have permanent watercourses and are deprived of runoff into the ocean. Most of Australia's permanent rivers are characterized by an uneven regime.
The islands of Oceania are almost all well-watered, but their small size does not allow the development of large rivers.
In Australia, more than half of the surface is in the region. Approximately 10% of the territory has a drain, the rest belongs to the basin. The main watershed of the mainland are East mountains... The largest and deepest rivers flow from their slopes. These rivers are fed almost exclusively by rain.
Since the eastern slope of these mountains is short and steep, short, fast, meandering rivers flow towards the Coral and Tasman Seas.
Receiving more or less uniform nutrition, they are the most abundant, with a fairly pronounced summer maximum. Crossing individual ridges, some rivers form rapids and waterfalls. The length of the most large rivers(, Berdekin, Henter) - several hundred kilometers. In the lower reaches, some of them are navigable for 100 km or more, and at their estuaries are accessible for ocean-going ships.
The rivers are also quite full-flowing Northern Australia flowing into the Arafur and Timor seas. The most significant are those that flow down from the northern ridges of the East Australian Mountains. But the rivers of the sesera of Australia, due to the sharp difference in the amount of precipitation between summer and winter, are much more unstable in regimen than the rivers of the east. They overflow with water and often overflow during the summer monsoon. In winter, these are weak narrow watercourses, drying up in places in the upper reaches. The most north (Flinders 800 km in length, and Ord - 600 km) in summer are navigable in the lower reaches for many tens of kilometers.
Permanent streams also flow in the southwest of the mainland. But they all have a very uneven regime and during dry summer season in some sections, the currents turn into a series of shallow polluted ones.
And there are no permanent streams in the interior of Australia. But the territory of Central Australia is crossed by a network of dry channels, which are, obviously, the remnants of the former developed water network, formed under the conditions of a more humid previous era. These dry channels are filled with water for a very short time after rains. These periodic streams are known in Australia as the scream. They are especially numerous in the Central Plains, where they head towards the endless Lake Eyre.
The Nullarbor Karst is devoid of even periodic streams, but has an underground water network with a drain towards the Great Australian Bight.
The largest river system in Australia is the Murray-Darling river system. These rivers flow from the East Australian Mountains and merge in the southern lowlands. Despite the fact that r. shorter than the Darling, it is considered the main river of this system, since it is much more full-flowing than the river. Darling. The length of the river. Murray 2570 km, r. Darling - 2830 km, the area of the basin of these rivers - 1072 thousand square meters. km, the average annual flow is 270 cubic meters. m! sec. The second major tributary of the river. Murray - p. Marrambidgee, its length is 1690 km.
The regime of all rivers included in the Murray-Darling system is extremely uneven. They are nourished mainly by rainfall, and to some extent by snow falling in Australia. Therefore, the maximum discharge occurs in the summer, when the levels of the Murray and Darling rivers rise and they overflow over the flat, low-lying plain, producing sometimes devastating floods. At the same time, rivers carry a huge amount of clastic material and deposit banks along the channels, often preventing the flow of tributaries into the main river.
The river channels within the plain are very meandering and are accompanied by numerous channels. The interfluve of Murray and Marrumbidge, entirely composed of river sediments, is crossed in all directions by channels and is flooded during summer floods.
The rivers of the Murray Basin become very shallow during dry winters. The main river significantly lowers its level, but nevertheless, as a rule, maintains a continuous watercourse along its entire length. Only in the years of “the most severe droughts do some parts of the upper reaches of the Murray dry up completely.
The Darling River is significantly inferior to the river. Murray. In the dry season, it becomes very shallow and in some parts of the current it breaks up into a number of shallow stagnant bodies of water. At the same time, during periods of floods, the water level can rise by 10-15 m.
The rivers of the Murray-Darling system have a large economic value, since their waters are used in the fertile, but arid lands of the lowlands.
Navigation on the rivers is hampered by the irregularity of the regime, as well as by the strong accumulating activity of the rivers. For example, the mouth of the river. Murray is so cluttered with debris that it is completely inaccessible to ships. But the river itself is used for navigation to Albury. Even R. Downstream Darling is accessible for small boats.
There are many lakes in Australia, but in most cases they are drainless and have salt water, and very many of them are filled with water only after the rains.
The most large lake mainland - Eyre, located on the Central Plains. Its level lies 12 m below sea level. The lake is the center of the internal flow of a vast area and receives a whole system of temporary watercourses - "screams" (Cooper, Dayamantina, Eyr, etc.). The lake is shallow, highly saline, its area and shape are unstable and change depending on precipitation. During the rainy season, screams bring a large amount of water from the mountains into the lake, and Lake Eyre overflows with water. In the wettest years, its area reaches 15,000 km2.In the dry period, which lasts most of the year, the flow of water stops due to screams, the water in the lake evaporates and Ayr breaks up into a series of shallow water bodies connected to each other by areas covered with salt crusts.
A large group of drainless salt lakes is located south of Lake Eyre, among the ancient mountain ranges... These are lakes Torrens, Gairdner, Frome, etc. Like Lake Eyre, they become shallow and break up into separate bodies of water during the dry period and overflow after heavy rains. All of them are surrounded by wide strips of salt marshes.
There are many closed lakes on the Western Australian Plateau. They fill with water only after showers, and for most of the year they are dry salt surfaces.
Resources surface waters The waters of Australia are insufficient to meet the needs of the population in water, especially since many reservoirs of the mainland are saline. But it has large reserves of underground artesian waters. On the mainland, numerous artesian pools have been studied and used, which provide drinking water for people and livestock, water for industry and irrigation of fields. The largest, the so-called Great Artesian Basin, stretches from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the basin of the river. Darling. In total, there are about 6,500 artesian wells in Australia.
Municipal educational institution "Cheberchinsk basic secondary school"
Prepared and conducted:
Geography teacher Kostycheva O.A.
2011
LESSON ON TOPIC:
"NATURAL ZONES.
ORGANIC WORLD OF AUSTRALIA "
Goals:
Educational:
1. To form regional knowledge:
- creation general view about the uniqueness of Australia, through the study of the main features of the nature of the continent on the example of the location of natural zones;
- acquaintance with the peculiarities of the characteristic representatives of the flora and fauna, as well as the disclosure of the reasons for this originality.
2. Consider possible ways to preserve the nature of Australia.
Developing:
1. To develop general educational skills and skills of working with cartographic material.
2. Develop skills in working with additional literature;
3. Develop the creative and intellectual abilities of students. Educational:
1. To form a system of moral values that are personally significant for each student.
2. To cultivate a respectful attitude towards the world around us.
Equipment: physical map world, map "Natural areas of the world", atlases, workbooks.
Methods:
partial search, problematic presentation of material, explanatory and illustrative.
Lesson type:
combined.
During the classes:
I. Organizational moment
II. Updating basic knowledge pupils
1. Students are encouraged to take an individual test:
Test on the topic: "Australia"
1. Indicate the general features of the structure of the continents of Africa and Australia:
A) mountains predominate on these continents;
B) the coastline of the continents is heavily indented;
C) ancient platforms are located at the base of the continents.
2. Australia was a colony:
A) Portugal;
B) Spain;
In Great Britain.
3. The most high point Australia:
A) the city of Kilimanjaro;
B) the city of Aconcagua;
C) the city of Kostsyushko;
D) the city of Erebus.
4. What continents do the mountains belong to:
MOTHERLAND MOUNTAINS
1. Draconian a- Antarctica
2. Great Dividing Range b-Africa
3. Andes to South America
4.Erebus Mr. -Australia
5. The world's largest coral reef is called ...
6. The Great Dividing Range belongs to the mountains in height:
A) high; B) medium-altitude; B) low.
7. The largest river system in Australia ...
8. The largest lake in Australia ...
9. The drying up rivers of Australia are called ...
10. Why Australia is the driest continent:
A) has a great length from north to south;
B) low altitude above sea level;
C) sea air masses are retained by mountain slopes;
D) a significant part of Australia is influenced by dry tropical air masses.
11. In the north of Australia there is a climatic zone:
A) subequatorial; B) tropical; C) subtropical.
12. Reconstruct the chain of cause-and-effect relationships:
A) deserts are located in most of Australia;
B) mountains trap moist air masses from The Pacific;
C) little precipitation falls.
Self-test test. The keys to the test are posted on the board (Appendix 1.)
Students give their own grades. The criteria are posted on the board (Appendix 2.)
Students are asked additional questions and grades are given for answers at the board and tests.
2.Preparing students for active and conscious assimilation of new material
In order to find out what features of nature will be studied in the lesson, the teacher invites students to listen to an excerpt from the book "Children of Captain Grant" by Jules Verne:
"... this region is the most curious in all the globe! Its appearance, plants, animals, climate - all this amazed, amazes and will surprise scientists all over the world. ... the continent, where trees lose bark, not leaves every year; where the leaves are directed to the sun not by the surface, but by the edge and do not give a shadow; where the trees are undersized, and the grasses are gigantic in height; where animals are unusual; where quadrupeds have beaks, such as the echidna and the platypus; where the kangaroo jumper has legs of different lengths ... The most bizarre, most illogical country ever! The earth is paradoxical, refuting the laws of nature. "
Students suggest that this is how Paganel described unique nature Australia, and in the lesson they will study natural areas Australian mainland and the organic world.
Students are told about the topic of the lesson and the purpose of the lesson.
Demonstration of the coat of arms of Australia: the coat of arms depicts a kangaroo and an emu.
PLAN for learning new material.(On the desk)
- Natural areas of Australia.
- Changing nature by man.
III. Learning new material.
- 1. Natural areas of Australia.
A) Recall definitions: "Natural zone", "endemic".
"NATURAL ZONES"- This is a large natural complex with a common temperature and moisture conditions, soils, flora and fauna.
"ENDEMIKI"- plants and animals found in a limited area.
B) Working with maps of the atlas: determine where Australia is located (1 student shows them on the map.)
Pupils write down PZ in notebooks:
Constantly moist forests;
Variable wet forests;
Stiff-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs;
Savannahs and woodlands;
Deserts and semi-deserts (they are not as lifeless as in Africa);
Mixed forests;
Areas of high-altitude zonation.
- 2. Originality organic world Australia.
The teacher's story about the flora and fauna of Australia (along the way, the teacher demonstrates representatives of the flora and fauna using additional literature: Encyclopedia of Animals Vol. 1.2; f. "Around the World" No. 3.2006, "Planet of Wonders and Mysteries" by Reader's Digest, Across the continents and oceans, part 1.).
Due to the significant age of the continent (as well as low soil fertility), great variety weather conditions and long geographic isolation, Australia's biota is rich and unique.
Of about 12 thousand species, about 9 thousand are endemic. Among flowering plants, 85% are endemic, among mammals - 84%, birds - 45%, coastal fish - 89%. Many of Australia's ecological regions and their flora and fauna are threatened by human activities and introduced plant and animal species.
The most famous representatives of the Australian fauna are monotremes (platypuses and echidnas), a variety of marsupials (koalas, kangaroos, wombats), and birds such as emu, cockatoo and kookaburra. Australia has the largest number of venomous snakes in the world. Dingos were introduced by Austronesians who traded with Australian aborigines from 3000 BC. NS. Many plants and animals, including giant marsupials, became extinct with the settlement of the mainland by aborigines; others (such as the Tasmanian tiger (marsupial wolf)) became extinct with the advent of Europeans.
The waters washing Australia are also rich in cephalopods. Notable species include the blue-ringed octopus, ranked among the world's most venomous animals, and the giant Australian cuttlefish that gather every winter for massive mating games in one of the bays in Spencer Bay.
There are no ungulates and monkeys in Australia.
Most of Australia's woody plants are evergreen, and some have adapted to drought or fire, such as eucalyptus and acacia trees. The continent is home to a large number of endemic plants of the legume family.
Pupils perform with advance assignments - one message each about the flora and fauna of Australia.
- 3. Changing nature by man.
A) Recall the definitions:"RESERVATIONS" is a specially protected area and water area, excluded from any economic activity for the sake of keeping intact natural complexes.
"NATIONAL PARKS" is a specially protected area and water area with little disturbed complexes and unique natural and anthropogenic objects.
1999 year.
B) Disruption of natural balance:
CACTUS -------- RABBITS ------- SHEEP ------- "The soil is blown into the ocean."
It is forbidden to import plants and animals into Australia, it is forbidden to export plants and animals from Australia.
In order to preserve nature, reserves and National parks.
CANBERRA is one of the ecologically clean capitals of the world. More than 20 million trees have been planted.
I V. Anchoring and generalization of the studied material.
Reference information (Appendix 4.)
Discussion of questions with students:
Why Australia can be called a mainland reserve?
What are the consequences of animals brought to Australia?
Suggest conservation measures for Australia?
Individual tasks for each student - "Fill in the blanks":
(Students are given individual cards. Appendix 3)
Pupil # 1
Australia is dominated by ……., As it is almost entirely located in the tropical climate zone with hot and…. climate (desert, dry)
Pupil # 2
For a long time Australia developed ... from other continents, and therefore could not exchange species of plants and animals with other continents. In Australia itself it is very…. conditions for the formation of a wide range of species, therefore the flora and fauna of Australia is poor in the diversity of species, but at the same time…. (isolated, homogeneous, unique)
Pupil # 3
On the mainland there are many ... .., that is, animals and plants that are not found anywhere else on Earth. For example, kangaroo,…., ……, …… (endemic; eucalyptus, echidna, platypus, bottle tree, etc.)
Pupil # 4
The flora of Australia is dominated by succulents and dry-loving plants ..., ..., ...
Their leaves are facing the sun .... which reduces the evaporation of water from their surface (eucalyptus, umbrella acacias, bottle tree, etc .; edge)
Pupil # 5
Due to the isolation and absence of predators, many animals, which scientists considered extinct, have survived in Australia, for example, oviparous mammals -… .. and…. (platypus and echidna)
Pupil # 6
Despite the large number of endemics, in Australia there are plants that are inherent South America eg southern beech. This indicates the existence of many millions of years ago ... ... (overland communications)
V. Setting homework
In addition to the compulsory part for all students (§37, analysis of atlas maps), the teacher offers (for strong students) a creative task: to develop their own project for the conservation of nature in Australia.
The task can be formatted as a message.
For the rest of the students: designate on the K / K RW of the mainland.
Annex 1.
Test: "Australia".
Answers
1.in
2.in
3.in
4.1-b, 2-d. 3-in. 4- a
5. Great Barrier Reef
6.b
7.p. Murray with Darling Ave.
8. Eyre North
9. Shouts
10.g
11.a
12.b - c - a
Appendix 2.
Criteria: "5"- 11-12 b
"4"- 9-10 p
"3"- 7-8 p
"2"- 6 and less
Appendix 3.
Pupil # 1
Australia is dominated by ……. , as it is almost entirely located in the tropical climatic zone with hot and ... .. .... climate
Pupil # 2
For a long time Australia developed ………… .. from other continents, and therefore could not exchange plant and animal species with other continents. In Australia itself there are very ……… .. conditions for the formation of a large spectrum of species, therefore the flora and fauna of Australia is poor in the diversity of species, but at the same time ………….
Pupil # 3
There are many… .. …… on the mainland, that is, animals and plants that are not found anywhere else on Earth. For example, kangaroo, ……, ……, …….
Pupil # 4
The flora of Australia is dominated by succulents and dry-loving plants…,…,….
Their leaves are facing the sun…. , which reduces the evaporation of water from their surface.
Pupil # 5
Due to the isolation and absence of predators, many animals, which scientists considered extinct, have survived in Australia, for example, oviparous mammals -… .. and…. ...
Pupil # 6
Despite the large number of endemics, in Australia there are plants that are characteristic of South America, for example, the southern beech. This testifies to the existence of a ... ... connection many millions of years ago.
Appendix 4.
Reference information.
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources,
organized in 1968.
UNESCO NATURAL HERITAGE MONUMENTS:
- Wildlife of Western Tasmania
- East Coast rainforests
- Wet tropics of Queensland
MONUMENTS OF UNESCO'S NATURAL HERITAGE, WHICH INCLUDES SEVERAL RESERVES OR NATIONAL PARKS:
- Great Barrier Reef
- Fraser Island
- Shark Bay
- Nat. park "Uluru-Katayuta"
State significance:
- Nat. Simpson Desert Park
- Nat. park "Kakadu"
- Reserve "Tanami - Desert"
The main legal instrument governing the protection of endangered species in Australia is the Protection Act environment and biological diversity ”1999. In order to protect and preserve the unique ecosystem of Australia, a large number of protected areas have been created in the country: 64 - of international importance, 16 - on the World Heritage List. Australia ranked 13th in 2005 for the Sustainability Index.
Introduction
Australia
Introduction
Australia is the smallest in area, driest and sparsely populated continent of our planet. There are many unusual things for us here: when moving north it gets hotter, and south - colder. There are especially many plants and animals here that cannot be found on other continents. Australia is entirely in Southern hemisphere(from Latin austral - opposite, southern). On the mainland, the island of Tasmania and small islands, there is only one state - the Commonwealth of Australia. The capital is the city of Canberra.
Geographical position. Discovery history. Relief and minerals
The shores of Australia, like Africa, are very weakly indented. There are few bays here, the most convenient of them are located in the southeast of the mainland, where there are large ports. The coastline of the northern coast is more indented. Australia is washed by the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Temperature conditions favor the growth of corals, which form bizarre limestone structures. Therefore, along the northeastern part of Australia, as if repeating the outlines coastline, the world's largest coral reef, called the Great Barrier Reef, stretches for more than 2 thousand km.
Australia was discovered by Europeans later than other inhabited continents. The discovery was hampered by its remoteness from Europe and isolation. Even ancient scientists assumed that there was a land to the south of the Southern Tropic. This land was discovered by the Dutch. In the first half of the 17th century. they already knew almost all the northern, western and southwest coast mainland. The expedition of the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman was of great importance for the knowledge of Australia. He explored the northern and northwestern coasts of the mainland and discovered in 1642 the island, later named after him - Tasmania.
The east coast of Australia was discovered in the second half of the 16th century. the largest English navigator and explorer J. Cook. As a result of Cook's research, the legend of the existence of a large southern mainland and it was proved that Australia is an independent continent, and not part of the unknown Antarctic continent, as was previously believed.
Since the end of the XVHI century. the development of Australia begins. The British government first exiled criminals to Australia, as a result of which the city of Sydney arose in the southeast of the mainland as a colony of convicts.
The attention of Europeans in Australia was also attracted by good pastures that could be used for raising livestock. Therefore, the study of the interior regions of the mainland began with the search for pastures and water for the livestock of European settlers. In connection with the discovery of the richest gold deposits in the middle of the XIX century. many "seekers of happiness" rushed to Australia. England declared the entire mainland its colony.
The relief of Australia, like Africa, is relatively simple. It is based on the Australian Platform. In the east of the mainland there are badly destroyed, low mountains of ancient folding - the Great Dividing Range. Faults and river valleys dissect mountains into separate massifs. Their tops, as a rule, are domed. The eastern slopes of the mountains drop abruptly to the sea, the western slopes are more gentle. In the extreme southeast, the mountains reach highest height... In the west, the surface decreases and the mountains pass into the Central Lowland, which is covered with a thick layer of sedimentary deposits.
The western part of the mainland is uplifted. Here it is vast plateau 400-600 m in height, on which in some places low, bizarre mountains rise, their feet are "buried" in gravelly material and sands. Australia is the only mainland where there is no active volcanoes and modern glaciation.
In the process of development, the continent experienced uplifts, subsidence and faults. As a result of troughs and faults, a significant part of the land sank to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, the islands of New Guinea and Tasmania separated.
Australia is rich in all the main minerals necessary for the development of industry and agriculture: coal, deposits of which are found mainly in the southeast of the mainland in sedimentary rocks, various ores. There is also oil and natural gas there.
Climate
You already know that most of Australia is in tropical belt therefore a tropical dry climate prevails there. Only 1/3 of the territory receives sufficient or excessive precipitation. Australia has higher temperatures and less rainfall than South Africa. How can this be explained? The considerable length of the continent from west to east, thanks to which continental air masses are formed in Australia. The low altitude of the mainland above sea level is also important.
How is precipitation distributed on the mainland? To do this, you can look at climate map and use the conventional signs to find out how much and where precipitation falls. But in order to explain the reasons for the distribution of precipitation, it is necessary to remember which air masses and which winds prevail in each climatic zone. Northern Australia is in subequatorial belt, a subequatorial climate is formed here, as well as a similar climate in Africa. Dry formation tropical climate you know. In the east of the tropical and subtropical belts there are areas humid climate... The eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range are under the influence of sea air masses coming from the Pacific Ocean all year round. Air saturation with moisture increases under the influence of warm ocean currents. Therefore, heavy rainfall falls on the slopes of the mountains. The south of the mainland is located in the subtropical zone.
Australia has no major deep rivers... More than half of the mainland has no drainage into the ocean. The internal desert and semi-desert parts of the continent are characterized by a network of temporary drying up rivers - screams. Full-flowing rivers throughout the year are found only in the east of Australia, where there is a lot of rainfall. Naturally, the rivers are fed only by rain and from underground waters.
The largest river system in Australia is the Murray with a large tributary, the Darling. These rivers originate in the Great Dividing Range. In the lower reaches of the Darling, during a drought, it dries up and breaks up into separate bodies of water. Murray does not dry out, but his level changes dramatically. During the rains, the river overflows heavily flat plain... High water on Murray usually comes on quickly and does not last long.
Due to the sharp fluctuations in the water level on Murray and Darling, navigation on them is difficult. River waters are used to irrigate fertile but arid lands. For this, reservoirs have been built on them.
Most of Australia's lakes have no runoff and are saline. Many lakes are filled with water only during the wet period. The largest of them is Lake Eyre, which lies 12 m below sea level. During the rains, the screams flowing into the lake bring a lot of water, it overflows, and its area greatly increases. In the dry season, Eyre disintegrates into shallow bodies of water, the dried out areas are covered with a crust of salt.
The lack of surface water is partially offset by large reserves of groundwater that accumulate in artesian basins. Artesian waters contain quite a lot of salts.
Natural areas. The originality of the organic world
If you compare the location of the natural zones of Australia and Africa, you will find that in Australia, as well as in Africa, a large area is occupied by zones of savannahs and tropical deserts. Tropical deserts and semi-deserts are located in the central and western parts of the mainland. Savannahs border this area from the north, east, southeast and southwest.
Although Australia has the same natural areas as South Africa with Madagascar, except for areas of high-altitude zonation, but the organic world here is completely different. Nature has created a huge reserve in Australia, where many plants and animals have been preserved, close to those that inhabited the Earth in ancient times and disappeared on other continents. The species composition of plants and animals is characterized by poverty and originality. This is due to the fact that Australia and the adjacent islands separated from other continents long ago. The organic world has developed in isolation for a long time. Up to 75% of mainland plant species are found only in Australia. These include many types of eucalyptus trees that are very diverse. There are giant eucalyptus trees with a height of more than 100 m. The roots of such trees go 30 m into the ground and, like powerful pumps, pump out moisture from it. There are undersized eucalyptus and eucalyptus shrubs. Eucalyptus trees are well adapted to arid climates. Their leaves are located with an edge to the sunlight, the crown does not shade the soil, so eucalyptus forests are light. In eucalyptus trees, hardwood is a good building material. And their leaves are used for the production of oils, paints, medicines.
In addition to eucalyptus, Australia is characterized by acacias, casuarins with leafless filamentous branches, which are not found on other continents.
In subequatorial forests, among tall grasses, together with other trees (palms, ficuses, etc.), peculiar bottle trees grow - with a thick trunk at the base, sharply tapering upward. A characteristic feature of subtropical forests is the predominance of various types of eucalyptus, intertwined with vines, and many tree ferns.
In the interior desert regions, thickets of dry shrubs are widespread, consisting mainly of low-growing thorny acacias, eucalyptus. Such thickets are called scrub. There is almost no vegetation on mobile sandy ridges and stony placers. In contrast to Africa, Australia has no oases, but the deserts do not look as lifeless as, for example, the Sahara.
Animal world Australia is also very distinctive. Only here live the most primitive mammals - the echidna and the platypus. They are interesting in that they hatch young from eggs, and feed them with milk, like mammals. There are many marsupials in Australia. Their babies are born very small, and the mother carries them out in a bag representing a fold of skin on the belly.
The vast majority of marsupial families are found only in Australia. Among them, the kangaroo family is especially common. Giant kangaroos reach 3 m. There are dwarf kangaroos, 30 cm in size. There are also wombats resembling marmots. In eucalyptus forests, you can find the koala marsupial. He lives in trees and leads a sedentary nocturnal lifestyle, he is also called the Australian sloth. A very rare predator, the marsupial devil, has survived on the island of Tasmania.
The world of birds is rich, varied and also unique. There are especially a lot of parrots. The forests are home to a beautiful lyrebird, birds of paradise with bright plumage, in dry savannas and semi-deserts - the emu. There are lizards, poisonous snakes, crocodiles are found in the waters of Northern Australia.
Australians love and care for the nature of their mainland. They pay a lot of attention to the protection of plants and animals and their study. The emu and kangaroo are depicted on the national emblem of the country, and the echidna, platypus, lyrebird bird are depicted on Australian coins.
Australia
Modern population Australia is made up of an indigenous minority and immigrants who now make up the bulk of it. The indigenous population of Australia - aborigines - belongs to the Negroid-Australoid race and has a dark brown skin color, wavy black hair, a wide nose, and prominent brows.
Scientists suggest that they came here from South-East Asia... Before the arrival of the Europeans, Australians were at a very low level of development. The natives were not engaged in either agriculture or cattle breeding, did not know how to make fabrics, did not know metals. They lived by hunting, gathering, well-versed in nature and led a nomadic lifestyle.
The newcomer population includes the descendants of Europeans, almost exclusively Englishmen - Anglo-Australians who speak English.
About 19 million people live in Australia. Australia stands out among other continents with a very low population density. On the territory of the mainland, the population is distributed extremely unevenly. Almost all of it is concentrated on the eastern, southeastern and partly southwestern outskirts of the mainland, where it is better natural conditions... The population here consists of Anglo-Australians. Inner Australia and the entire north are sparsely populated. Mostly aborigines live here.
Before colonization, the entire population of the mainland was made up of indigenous people. They were located in the east and southeast of Australia, where natural conditions are more favorable for human life. After the arrival of Europeans on the mainland and in connection with the development of sheep breeding, the indigenous people began to be pushed into the interior of the mainland - to arid regions, dooming them to starvation. In addition, the Europeans brutally exterminated the Australians, killed them, poisoned food, water in the wells. The number of the indigenous population on the mainland fell sharply from 310 thousand to 50 thousand people.
Aboriginal people lived in poverty-stricken conditions on reservations (territories set aside for the forcible settlement of indigenous people) located in desert areas. They were completely deprived of rights, did not have the right to live in cities, to participate in public life. The world-famous self-taught artist Namadzhira, whose paintings were highly valued in many countries, did not have the right to attend exhibitions of his works. Today Australian Aborigines have become legally equal citizens of their country. It is important that the aborigines have ceased to die out and their number continues to grow. Mixed marriages have appeared, which did not exist before. Some of the natives work on farms as farm laborers as shepherds and laborers. Others continue to live a semi-vagrant hunter-gatherer lifestyle. The Australians make their homes from grass, branches and earth. The food obtained is divided equally by the elders among the members of the tribe. No preference is given to a hunter who has killed an animal. Various ceremonies contribute to the education of honest, courageous, unafraid of the difficulties of the tribe.
The leading place in the economy of the Australian Union belongs to industry, in which all sectors are well developed. On the basis of a variety of minerals, the mining industry was formed here. Mechanical engineering is rapidly developing in the country, chemical industry, as well as food: butter making, cheese making, canned food (dairy, meat, vegetables, fruit).
Agriculture is also well developed. Anglo-Australian farmers own large land plots... They use machinery, fertilizers, and hired labor, thanks to which they receive high yields and profits. Leading in agriculture belongs to pasture cattle breeding - sheep breeding. Australian merino produce over half of the world's shear. In areas with low rainfall, the main food for sheep is drought-resistant grasses and shrubs. Sheep here graze on natural pasture throughout the year. In the southeast of the country, sheep are grazed in areas planted with forage grasses.
Many sheep breeding farms are poorly populated. As helpers, farmers use a specially bred breed of dogs - Kelpies, which were brought in from Scotland in the last century. Calpie can replace three workers. She skillfully copes with the flock, but will never offend the sheep. Droughts, fires and floods cause great damage to sheep breeding.
Cattle, mainly purebred cows, are bred mainly in the north and east of the country, where there is sufficient rainfall.
Wheat takes the leading place among agricultural crops. Wheat fields are located in the southeast and southwest of the country. On the coastal plains of the subequatorial and tropical parts of the country, pineapples, bananas, sugarcane, etc. are grown. major cities there are many orchards on the irrigated land.
In the economy of the country, the seas surrounding Australia are of great importance. They catch fish, breed pearl mussels, edible oysters. Fishing is in progress sea turtles... Australia has no land connections with other countries. All of its cities, with a few exceptions, are the largest seaports... Through them, along with by air, trade and cultural relations are carried out with countries of other continents.
The natives were very careful about nature. The nature of Australia has changed most rapidly and strongly since the colonization of the mainland and with the further economic activity of the Anglo-Australians. Many animals have been exterminated as a result of hunting and changes in their living conditions. The densely populated eastern, southeastern and southwestern parts of Australia are the most heavily modified. Valuable tree species are cut down here. Significant areas cleared of forest are used as pastures for dairy cattle.
In the past, dry woodlands and shrubs are now occupied by wheat fields, vineyards, and olive tree plantations.
The appearance of the arid, sparsely populated central and western parts mainland. The best plots are divided into rectangular areas fenced in by wire fences - pastures for livestock. In connection with the development of industry, automobile and railways, power lines. New species have appeared in the flora and fauna of Australia. Plants imported from Europe (poplar, oak, etc.) and animals, such as the wild dog dingo, rabbits, quickly settle, which suppresses the local organic world. Thus, rabbits and sheep contributed to a significant decrease in marsupials, since they used the same pastures.
Australians strive to preserve the uniqueness of the organic world. To this end, there are laws prohibiting the import of plants and animals, and the export of rare local species is strictly controlled. In order to preserve natural natural complexes and save endangered rare plants and animals, a significant number of national parks and reserves have been created.
List of used literature
1. “Geography of continents and oceans. 7 cl. ": Textbook. for general education. institutions / V.A. Korinskaya, I.V. Dushina, V.A. Shchenev. - 15th ed., Stereotype. - M .: Bustard, 2008.
"Mainland Australia" - Population of Australia. Geography lesson in 7th grade. In Australia, cattle and sheep are raised in large numbers. Australia. Australia is the most sparsely populated continent. The most important industry has traditionally been agriculture. The current population of Australia is about 20 million people (!).
"Animals of Australia" - The length of the jump reaches 10 m. The fauna of Australia. Ostrich Emu. Koalas live in trees in the eucalyptus groves of Eastern Australia. Australia. The platypus is a strange animal. Kangaroos live only in Australia. Wombat.
Lesson Australia - Practical work"Geographical location of Australia". ... Australia is located at 3 climatic zones: subequatorial, tropical and subtropical. The history of the discovery of Australia. Lesson topic: Geographical location of Australia. Luis Vaeza Torres. James Cook. Mainland - relics - animals and plants.
"Australia's Geography Lesson" - The Commonwealth of Australia is a highly developed nation. What is the level and rate of urbanization of the territory? History of Australia and Oceania. Melbourne is the capital of Australia in 1901-1927. - the 2nd largest city in the country. Thanks to James Cook, Australia became the property of England. The answer is to argue. Level 3.
"Geographical Location of Australia" - Comparison geographic location Africa and Australia; definition of features of similarity and difference. Make a conclusion about the influence of geographical location on the nature of the continent. Task number 2: designate the elements of FGP on outline map... Australia. General Learning Skills How to make a comparison. Practical work. The main area of the mainland is occupied by ...
"Population of Australia" - Scientists suggest that the aborigines came to the mainland from Africa. Adelaide. Aborigines belong to the Negroid - Australoid race. The most important industry has traditionally been agriculture. The landmark of the city is the house of James Cook. The most dense and sparsely populated areas of Australia. ... Flag.
There are 14 presentations in total
At 2,995 kilometers (1,861 mi) long, Murray descends from the Australian Alps.
From the most drained western side of the highest mountains of the Australian continent, and for most of its length, it meanders through the inland plains of Australia, forming the border between the states of New South Wales and Victoria.
It flows northwest, turns south for a final 500 kilometers (310 mi) journey, and upon reaching the ocean, falls into Lake Alexandrina.
Australia's Largest River - Nature of the River
Most Australian rivers are located close to the coast. The largest and longest of the Australian rivers can be found in the eastern part of the country. They traverse various environments on their way to the sea: mountain forests, wetlands, farmlands, and cities.
Many different animals live in the Australian river area. Fish, frogs, crayfish, mussels, platypuses, swans, ducks, pelicans, kangaroos, lizards, snakes, turtles live in aquatic environment rivers.
The Murray water flows through several lakes that fluctuate in salinity (and were fresh until recent decades), including Lakes Alexandrina and Kurong before being emptied through the mouth of the Murray River in the southeastern Indian Ocean, and to refer to Australian maps, the Southern Ocean. near Goolwa.
Despite the filling of the river channel with significant volumes of water, before the emergence of irrigation systems, the mouth was always relatively small and shallow.
Since 2010, the river system receives 58% of the natural flow. It is Australia's most important irrigated region and is the nation's feeding ground.
Less than one fifth of the rainwater flows to Australian rivers. Most of the rainwater evaporates, is used by trees and plants, or ends up in lakes, swamps or the ocean. Due to this, Australian rivers have a very irregular flow.
This means that sometimes the river becomes wider, deeper and has a fast flow, and sometimes it becomes shallower, its channels become narrow, and the waters slow.
River of life
The Murray River and its associated tributaries support many unique shapes life of the river, adapted to its whims.
- This includes a variety of fish species such as the famous Murray cod, trout, golden perch, Macquarie perch, silver perch, eel, tailed catfish, Australian smelt and western gudgeon carp.
- Several other aquatic animals can be named, such as the short-necked Murray turtles, Murray River crayfish, wide-clawed yabbies and large-clawed Macrobrachium shrimp, water rats, and Platypus. The Murray River supports forest corridors with its edging.
The health of the Murray River has declined significantly. Recent extreme droughts (2000-2007) have placed significant pressure on riparian forests - growing concerns about their long-term survival. Murray also floods places in some cases, the most significant was the 1956 flood - it lasted six months and flooded many cities on lower Murray.
The fish species represented - carp, mosquito fish, char, rudd perch and rainbow trout - have also experienced serious negative consequences of the changes. The degraded environment of the Murray River and its tributaries is killing plants and continually causing increased turbidity.
