Australian Fun Facts.docx

Australian Fun Facts 1. THE AVERAGE AUSSIE DRINKS 96 LITERS OF BEER PER YEAR In addition to Goon (the iconic cask wine), the Aussies also enjoy having a beer or two. On average they drink 96 liters of beer per year! 2. HIGHWAY 1 IS THE LONGEST NATIONAL HIGHWAY IN THE WORLD It’s about 14 500 kilometers and circumnavigates the country. Now that’s one epic road trip! 3. THERE ARE MORE KANGAROOS THAN PEOPLE Some data reports that the total population of Kangaroos is almost 50 million now. Back in 2016, there were almost 45 million Kangaroos, which means that there are more Kangaroos in Australia than people! kangaroo - facts about australia Photo: Shutterstock 4. . THE DROP BEAR WAS CREATED TO SCARE TOURISTS The Drop Bear is an imaginary animal that’s supposed to be a predatory version of the Koala. It was created by the Aussies to scare away tourists! But you can rest assure, the drop bear will not jump down from the trees and attack you. 5. AUSTRALIA HAS THE SECOND-HIGHEST HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX One thing the Aussies can pride themselves is the fact that they’re ranking high in the human development index. This index measures various things such as equality, lifespan, welfare etc. Australia comes in at second place, just after Norway. 6. AND THEY LOVE VEGEMITE What is vegemite you might ask? It’s one of those Australian foods that you have to try at least once in your life. Vegemite is a thick spread made from leftover brewers’ yeast extract with various vegetable and spice additives. The Aussies usually put the spread on sandwiches, toast, crumpets and cracker biscuits as well as a filling for pastries. Vegemite Photo: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com 7. MELBOURNE HAS THE LARGEST GREEK POPULATION OUTSIDE OF GREECE This is quite an interesting fact about Australia, especially for greeks. In Melbourne, there are an estimated 162 000 people that claim Greek ancestry. 8. THERE’S A MOUNTAIN NAMED “MT. DISAPPOINTMENT” An 800-meter high mountain that was named by the explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell in 1824. The mountain got its name because of the disappointing view from the top. The explorers expected to see Port Philipp Bay from the top, but a large number of trees prevented this. 9. AUSTRALIA’S DINGO FENCE IS LONGER THAN THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA The Great Wall of China is famous around the world, and it’s truly spectacular, but did you know that Australia’s dingo fence is actually longer? The national dingo fence measures 5600 kilometers. 10. SOME OF THE WORLD’S DEADLIEST ANIMALS LIVE HERE Yes, Australia is home to the deadliest spider, the deadliest snake, the deadliest octopus, the deadliest fish and so on. But despite this, very few people are actually killed by these highly venomous animals. From the year 2000 and 2013, more people were even killed by horses than Australia’s deadliest animals combined. inland taipan The Deadliest Snake – Photo: Shutterstock 11. AUSTRALIA WAS INHABITED FOR AT LEAST 50 000 YEARS BEFORE THE BRITISH CAME The Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for at least 50 000 years. They’re generally considered to have the oldest living culture on Earth. 12. AUSTRALIA HAS OVER 10 000 BEACHES If you visited one beach a day, it would take about 27 years to explore 10 000 beaches. No wonder that surfing and other water and beach activities are so popular!

bondi beach Here’s the famous Bondi Beach. Photo: Shutterstock 13. IT’S THE 6TH LARGEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD Some people don’t think of the land down under as one of the largest countries in the world, but the total area is a massive 2.9 million square miles or 7 692 000 km². That’s just slightly smaller than the continental U.S. However, Australia is one of the least densely populated countries with only 3 people per square kilometer. 14. THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS RECEIVE MORE SNOW THAN SWITZERLAND Probably one of the more surprising facts about Australia. Because it’s one of the aridest countries in the world and is generally known for the sun and heat. But the Australian Alps are bigger than Switzerland, so it’s not that surprising after all. The Australian Alps are part of the Great Dividing Range, the series of mountains, hills, and highlands that runs about 3,000 kilometers (1,900 mi) from northern Queensland, through New South Wales, and into the northern part of Victoria. 15. HOME TO THE LARGEST LIVING STRUCTURE ON EARTH – THE GREAT BARRIER REEF While some scientists declared the Great Barrier Reef dead back in 2016, the world’s largest coral reef is still alive, even though it needs to be protected from pollution and other problems that the world’s oceans are facing. Another cool fact is that the Great Barrier Reef is so large that it’s visible from space! United Kingdom Great Britain, therefore, is a geographic term referring to the island also known simply as Britain. It’s also a political term for the part of the United Kingdom made up of England, Scotland, and Wales (including the outlying islands that they administer, such as the Isle of Wight). United Kingdom, on the other hand, is purely a political term: it’s the independent country that encompasses all of Great Britain and the region now called Northern Ireland.

MAP Great B United Kingdom Facts 1 The United Kingdom runs under a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy, while the head of state being Queen Elizabeth II. 2 They have a total nominal GDP of $2.434 trillion, with a per capita GDP of $38,591. Their total nominal GDP is the 6th highest in the world, and the 3rd largest economy in Europe. 3 The United Kingdom is also the 8th largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, and they contribute greatly to the world's economy. 4 Automobiles comprise a large part of the nation's GDP, generating around 26.6 billion pounds of revenue each year. 5 Agriculture is also a large part of the nation's economy. They grow over 60% of their own foods, and therefore keep their food imports low. The United Kingdom also has a large amount of natural resources. Their lands are rich in iron, limestone, clay, gypsum, lead and coal. 6 The last Ice Age shaped the geography of the United Kingdom. Today, most of the nation is covered in steep mountains and low valleys. 7 Scotland is home to many small lochs, or narrow streams of water. Legend has it that a giant monster named Nessie can be found in Loch Ness in Scotland.

8 The sports soccer, rugby, golf, boxing, and cricket were all invented in the United Kingdom.

9 The author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling is from the United Kingdom. 10 England is the largest country in the United Kingdom. 11 The Summer Olympics were held in England three times

12 The Queen’s Birthday is celebrated each year in the United Kingdom during a weekend in June. On the day of celebration there is a parade and many parties. Most businesses are closed, and families get together to have family time. 13 St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday celebrated in Northern Ireland. Irish people drink beer and spirits while eating pink bacon and celebrating with grand parties. 14 Whenever a royal is married, there is often a holiday. In 2011 when Prince William and Catherine Middleton were married the day was considered a national holiday and everyone was given the day off from work and school. 15 In Scotland, Boxing Day is celebrated each year on the day after Christmas. It commemorates the day in which servants used to receive their gifts from their employers. Today, it is simply known as a bank holiday, and often isn’t celebrated very extravagantly. 16 Big Ben in London actually doesn’t refer to the clock. Big Ben is the bell that is located in the clock tower.

17 For over 300 years, French was the official language of the nation. 18 There is not a point in Britain that is more than 75 miles away from a coastline. Due to this, many British people find themselves vacationing on the beach.

19 Buckingham Palace in England has its very own police station.

20 There are more chickens in England than there are humans. 21 The first King of England, William the Conqueror made a law that everyone had to be in bed by 8pm. 22

The earliest rail lines in the world were found in the United Kingdom. 23 Each year it is estimated that over 80,000 umbrellas are lost in London. 24 The United Kingdom includes the following countries: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England.

25 When Scotland was added in 1707, the area became known as Great Britain. The addition of Ireland in 1801 brought about the name change to the United Kingdom. 26 England is the most populous country in the United Kingdom. 27 The official name for the United Kingdom is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 28 The United Kingdom's 7,700 miles of shoreline is the perfect habitat for a variety of seabirds and seals. 29 In 2016, citizens voted for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. 30 Almost 60% of people in the United Kingdom are Christian. 31 English is the official language of the United Kingdom. However, there are several regional languages that are recognized, including Welsh, Irish, Cornish, and and Scottish Gaelic. 32 The United Kingdom is home to 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Cities, including Bath, Canterbury, and Chester.

33 It is legal for children over 5 to consume alcohol at home or in other private areas in the United Kingdom. 34 In terms of area, the United Kingdom is smaller than the state of Oregon. 35 London, England was the first city in the world to have an undergound subway system. 36 Queen Elizabeth became the longest-reigning monarch in the United Kingdom in 2015.

37 The oldest home in the U.K. is about 6,000 years old. It is furnished with furniture made of stone, which still remains today. 38 The United Kingdom has a limit of 12 minutes of commercials per hour of television. 39 Prince Charles has been heir to the throne for over 60 years.

40 Over 30% of women in the United Kingdom have had an abortion in their lifetime.

41 165 million cups of tea per day are consumed in the United Kingdom. 42 Over 300 languages are spoken in London -- more than any other country in the world. 43 Stonehenge was built approximately 3,000 years ago and is even older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

44 There are over half a million vegans living in the United Kingdom. 45 The British Pound reached a 31-year low following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union. 46 Turning back the clock hands of Big Ben takes a total of four hours. 47 The largest Italian restaurant in the world is located in Britain. The Aakash seats up to 750 people. 48 After hosting the 2012 Olympics, London became the first city to host the games three times.

49 Windsor Palace is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. 50 Britain is the only country in the world that does not have a written constitution. The United Kingdom encompasses four countries, each of which have their own traditions and cultures. They come together with a common love for their nation, and are very hospitable and kind countries. If you would like to travel to the United Kingdom, then you could easily see all four countries due to their close proximity, and easy travel lines between them. The nation was the first industrialized nation in the world, and today, still is a dominant force in the world’s economy.

Geography 7107 islands at high tide About 1000 inhabited islands About 300,000 square kilometres land mass About 335,000 kilometres coast line Biggest island is Luzon in the North, Mindanao in the South being the second biggest. The Visayas in the middle consist of many medium-sized and smaller islands The highest point is Mt. Apo in Mindanao with 2,954 meters The deepest point is the Galathea Depth at -10,540 meters History

First Negritos reached the Philippines about 30,000 years ago Malays and Chinese came around the 9th century Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain in 1521. During the next 300 years, Spanish Jesuit priests and conquistadors spread Catholicism and Spanish culture across the archipelago The USA took rule over the Philippines from Spain in 1898 The Philippines gained independence in 1946. It was the first Southeast Asian country to gain independence after World War II Currency The Philippine Peso (PHP) – Convert Currencies here Time Zone GMT +8 Shop opening times Different from area to area, but usually shops are open on weekends and public holidays as well. Most malls in big cities will stay open till 9pm Electricity 240V AC, usually the Japanese-style sockets Japanese Plug

Language The Philippines claim to be the third largest English speaking country in the world. However, for most it is not their first language and the skill level varies between fluent to almost none The national languages are Pilipino and English Many different languages and dialects are spoken in the Philippines. Some are very different to each other, some very similar. Numbers vary between 90 and 180 different languages. Commonly used languages include: Tagalog (22 million speakers), Cebuano (20 million), Ilocano (7.7 million), Hiligaynon or Ilonggo (7 million), Bicolano (5 million), Waray (3 million), Pampango and Pangasinan Head of State President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III (term: 2010- 2016) Religion The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia About 80% are Roman Catholic About 15% are Muslim; the vast majority lives in and around Mindanao Population The population of the Philippines is more than 100 million, with an annual growth rate of around 2%, making it one of the most populous and fastest growing countries on Earth Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is one of the world’s most densely populated cities, with 43,079 people per square kilometer There is a huge amount of different ethnical groups in the Philippines The original inhabitants, the Negritos, now number only about 30,000 The majority of Filipinos are from various Malayo-Polynesian groups, including the Tagalog (28%), Cebuano (13%), Ilocano (9%), Hiligaynon Ilonggo (7.5%) and others Filipinos are known worldwide for their warmth and natural hospitality The country is known as the “texting capital of the world,” with about 350 to 400 million text messages (SMS) sent daily. That’s more than in the United States and Europe combined Climate

The climate in the Philippines is tropical and monsoonal Economy Agriculture: rice, coconuts (one of world’s largest producers), tropical fruits (sweetest mangoes worldwide are found in the Philippines) Wood products Electronics assembly Garment and footwear manufacturing Mining (the country is rich in natural resources, exploitation is difficult due to geographical and political reasons) Fishing Tourism Overseas Filipino workers (more than 10 million)