Background: Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990's, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980's. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.
June 28th 2008Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » West McDonnell Ranges Went to Rainbow Valley for the night. They had dingoes there. I saw someone with a torch. I thought it was a dingo. We left the next morning and went to Ayers Rock. The climb was closed because i ... 5 photos[full story]
March 22nd 2008Oceania » Australia » Northern Territory » West McDonnell Ranges
I slept well but I expect to be enjoying my nights more and more as the week progresses. We had a nice breakfast of cereal, tea and an orange. We also each got a museli bar, an apple and an ora ... [full story]
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