The geological activity that created the country’s mountains, plains, and rivers ceased millions of years ago. Earthquakes are very rare and the last volcanic eruption occurred more than 5,000 years ago. The highest mountain in Australia, Mount Kosciusko, is only 7,310 feet above sea level.

Australia experiences a wide variety of climates. In the north, the continent’s immense interior gives way to hot, wet monsoonal tropical regions. The southeast coast, where most of Australia’s population lives, is cooler and drier. The southwest is very hot and dry in the summer, but milder and wetter in the winter. The climate is very similar to the Mediterranean countries of Europe, or to California.

The first inhabitants were people belonging to the Australoid group, who probably originated from Southeast Asia. These people traveled to the Australian continent about 40,000 years ago. A short while later, Aborigines landed in canoes and rafts on the north coast of Australia and then moved southward across the rest of the continent. Aborigines were nomads living in family clans, each with its own territory where it could camp, hunt, and fish. The Aborigines brought two useful items from their original homeland: the dingo and the boomerang.

Melbourne --- In the Inner City Haunts, you will have a marvelous time. The inner suburbs of Carlton, Fitzroy and Richmond are all recommended for their architecture, restaurants and atmosphere. Carlton is the Italian center, full of pasta & spaghetti bars, muscle cars and slick Italian clothing stores. Victoria St in Richmond is the vibrant Vietnamese center, chock full of budget restaurants, and the focus of the Lunar New Year celebrations in January-February. Fitzroy is now a magnet for the urban cool, cafe dwellers and property renovators, but was once the working-class heart of Melbourne.

There are endless sporting opportunities. You can join an annual City to Surf fun run, contemplate the Minolta Australian Ironman Triathlon, or just surf, swim, kick a ball, try indoor rock climbing or swing a golf club. Australia's 36,735-kilometer coastline, bordering two oceans and four seas, is basically one big, long beach. Punctuated by spectacular cliffs, headlands, inlets, rivers and waterways. Activities range from swimming, diving and surfing to underwater hockey. Australia echoes to the sound of high-octane festivals: catch the Telstra Rally Australia in Perth, Honda Indy 300 on the Gold Coast or V8 super cars roaring through Adelaide. Thrill to the Formula One Grand Prix World Championship in Melbourne. Australia has spawned more than its share of tennis champions. The Australian Open, at Melbourne Park, is keenly watched and squash, badminton, basketball and netball also have strong followings. Balls are kicked, thrown and whacked with sticks throughout Australia. The smorgasbord of events spans Aussie Ru

Some topics in this essay:
House Representatives, California Summer, West European, Southeast Asia, Queensland Considered, Ironman Triathlon, Mount Kosciusko, Bondi Beach, Rules Australia's, Sanctuary Brisbane, lack rain, wide variety, political party, legislative assembly, bondi beach, commodity prices, house representatives,