AUSTRALIAN ENVIRONMENT
Australia boasts 17 properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These are:
1. Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef
2. Tasmanian Wilderness
3. Wet Tropics of Queensland
4. Shark Bay
5. Kakadu National Park
6. Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park
7. Purnululu National Park
8. Willandra Lakes region
9. Tasmanian Wilderness
10. The Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Naracoorte/Riversleigh)
11. Lord Howe Island Group
12. Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves (Australia)
13. Fraser Island
14. Macquarie Island
15. Heard Island
16. McDonald Islands
17. Greater Blue Mountains Area
Over 90% of the Australian landscape features native flora, a large amount of which can be found in the Outback, although arid. While the Outback is very beautiful, it is a harsh environment in which to live. Therefore, the vast majority of the population has settled along the extensive coastline. In fact, over 80% of Australian residents are less than 100km from the coast.
Interestingly, both the soil and ocean water of Australia are the poorest in the world in terms of nutrients. The lack of seismic activity is the root cause of this. For this reason, only 6% of the land is suitable for agriculture and even these areas are severely lacking in fresh water sources.
Although surrounded on all sides by water, this continent has less water in the form of freshwater streams and dams than any other continent in the world. Its rainfall is also erratic, contributing to the ongoing droughts that plague this land. Of course, the major cause of water shortage is pollution at the hands of human beings. The ocean is rich in marine life, including fish, coral and mammals, as well as many marine birds that soar overhead.
Despite being the driest and smallest continent in the world, Australia is home to one of the largest varieties of fauna and flora. More significantly, most of these are unique to this country. For example, 84% of the mammals and 45% of the birds found in Australia are found only here. In addition, approximately 20 exotic mammal species have settled here from other destinations around the world.
Australia is very hot in summer and cool to temperate in winter. In the last century, the average temperature has risen by almost 1 degree Celsius, which has negative implications on its overall ability to sustain its natural resources.
The natural diversity of this environment puts Australia high on the list of spectacular places to visit, one that promises a new perspective on the world and its environmental resources.
|