Australia comprises a land area of about 7,692,030 square kilometres (see table 1.1). The land lies between latitudes 10 degrees 4l minutes south (Cape York) and 43 degrees 39 minutes south (South East Cape, Tasmania) and between longitudes 113 degrees 09 minutes east (Steep Point, Western Australia) and 153 degrees 39 minutes east (Cape Byron, New South Wales). The most southerly point on the mainland is South Point (Wilson's Promontory) 39 degrees 08 minutes south. The latitudinal distance between Cape York and South Point is about 3,180 kms, while the latitudinal distance between Cape York and South East Cape, Tasmania, is 3,680 kms. The longitudinal distance between Steep Point and Cape Byron is about 4,000 kms.
1.1 AREA, COASTLINE, TROPICAL AND TEMPERATE ZONES, AND STANDARD TIMES
|
| Estimated area | | % of total area | Standard times |
|
| |
|
|
| Total | Total area | Length of coastline(a) | Tropical
zone | Temperate
zone | Meridian
selected | Ahead of
GMT(b) |
State/Territory | km2 | % | km | | | | hours |
|
New South Wales | 800,640 | 10.41 | 2,140 | . . | 100 | 150 deg E | 10.0 |
Victoria | 227,420 | 2.96 | 2,510 | . . | 100 | 150 deg E | 10.0 |
Queensland (c) | 1,730,650 | 22.50 | 13,350 | 54 | 46 | 150 deg E | 10.0 |
South Australia | 983,480 | 12.79 | 5,070 | . . | 100 | 142 deg 30 min E | 9.5 |
Western Australia | 2,529,880 | 32.89 | 20,780 | 37 | 63 | 120 deg E | 8.0 |
Tasmania | 68,400 | .89 | 4,880 | . . | 100 | 150 deg E | 10.0 |
Northern Territory | 1,349,130 | 17.54 | 10,950 | 81 | 19 | 142 deg 30 min E | 9.5 |
Australian Capital Territory | 2,360 | .03 | . . | . . | 100 | 150 deg E | 10.0 |
Jervis Bay Territory | 70 | . . | 60 | . . | 100 | 150 deg E | 10.0 |
Australia | 7,692,030 | 100.00 | 59,740 | 39 | 61 | . . | . . |
|
(a) Includes islands.
(b) Greenwich Mean Time. During daylight saving periods, an hour should be added to the times in this column.
(c) Queensland does not have daylight saving.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology and AUSLIG. |
The area of Australia is almost as great as that of the United States of America (excluding Alaska), about 50% greater than Europe (excluding the former USSR) and 32 times greater than the United Kingdom. Tables 1.2 and 1.3 show the area of Australia in relation to areas of other continents and selected countries.
1.2 AREAS OF CONTINENTS
|
| Area
'000 km2 |
|
Continents | |
Asia | 44,614 |
Africa | 30,319 |
North, Central America and West Indies | 24,247 |
South America | 17,834 |
Europe | 10,600 |
Australia and Oceania | 8,504 |
Total land mass (excluding Antarctic continent) | 135,774 |
|
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; World Book Encyclopedia.
|
1.3 AREAS OF SELECTED COUNTRIES
|
| Area
'000 km2 |
COUNTRIES (SEVEN LARGEST)
|
Russia | 17,075 |
Canada | 9,976 |
China | 9,596 |
United States of America | 9,629 |
Brazil | 8,511 |
Australia | 7,692 |
India | 3,287 |
SELECTED OTHER COUNTRIES
|
Belorus | 208 |
France | 547 |
Germany | 357 |
Indonesia | 1,919 |
Japan | 377 |
Kazakhstan | 2,717 |
Papua New Guinea | 462 |
New Zealand | 269 |
Ukraine | 604 |
United Kingdom | 244 |
|
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; World Book Encyclopedia; AUSLIG.