9781422283516

A ustralia is the driest continent in the world. Very little rain falls in most of the arid (hot and dry) and semi-arid lands of the interior.

But Australia also has tropical rain forests, high, snow-covered mountains, woodlands and grassy plains.

Names and Maps A s British settlers and surveyors moved into the interior of Australia, they named rivers, mountains and other geographical features. Naming the land went hand-in-hand with making maps. For example, a river was named and the name was recorded on the map. Places were often named after colonial or British officials or British cities and towns. Today the Australian government has begun to restore some of the original Aboriginal place- names for the land because they now recognize the Aborigines’ claim to Australia before settlers arrived. For instance, the European name Ayers Rock has been replaced by the Aboriginal name – Uluru—for the rock.

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