9781422278796

Australia is divided into six states, plus two major territories, each of which has its own governing body, much like the United States.

Australia is the smallest of the world’s seven continents, though it is also Earth’s largest island. With an area of 2,969,907 square miles (7.6 million sq km), Australia is the world’s sixth-largest country—about the size of the 48 contiguous United States. Islands formpart of this territo- ry. The most important of these is Tasmania, which is one of Australia’s six states. The other states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia. The country also includes the Northern Territory and the Capital Territory of Canberra.

1 3