The Commonwealth (联邦) of Australia
is the only country in the world that occupies a whole continent. It is the most highly industrialized nation south
of the equator, and it plays a leading
role in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia. Australia is the world's leading wool producer, is one of the world's leading meat-exporting countries, and has a booming (急速发展的) iron-ore (铁矿石) mining industry.

Covering an area of almost 3 million square miles, Australia ranks sixth in area among the countries of the world, behind the Soviet Union, Canada, China, the United States, and Brazil. With a population of only 14.5 million, however, Australia is one of the world's most sparsely (稀少地,稀疏地) populated countries. Much of its land is almost uninhabited (无人居住的), with the bulk (大批, 大多数) of the population concentrated (集中的)along the east, southeast, and southwest coasts.

Click here to download the National Anthem :
'Advance Australia Fair'.