Introduction
CE5
Australia
[key], smallest continent, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. With the island state of
Tasmania to the south, the continent makes up the
Commonwealth of Australia, a federal parliamentary state (2020 est. pop. 25,690,000),
2,967,877 sq mi (7,686,810 sq km). Australia's capital is Canberra. Its largest city is Sydney, closely followed in population by Melbourne. There are five continental states (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia, in addition to the aforementioned Tasmania) as well as the
Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory (an enclave within New South Wales, containing
Canberra). Australia's external territories include Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, the
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and the Australian Antarctic Territory.
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