In fact, there While the Fitzroy is Western Australia’s largest river, the Ord has been dammed near Kununurra to form Australia’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Argyle. Perth’s international airport handles flights servicing Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. 1859. Wheat, wool, beef and lamb are its main products. continent, and is the second largest administrative territory in the world. Tim Winton has won numerous awards and in 1998 he was declared a National Living Treasure. Omissions? Facts for Students Western Australia (WA) is Australia’s largest state. Some three dozen species each of bats and small rodents also inhabit the state’s diverse landscape. In 2016/17, fine wool of 19.5 micron or less made up 41% of the 'clip' (total amount shorn). Travelling around the five regions of Western Australia takes you to five very different worlds. Western Australians are known as Sandgropers Sandgropers are subterranean insects that are found across mainland Australia, but predominantly in Western Australia, inhabiting sand dunes and plains. A portion of the previously productive soils can no longer support crops, owing to excessive concentrations of soluble salts, mostly sodium chloride, which have accumulated in the soils since clearing. It is … Western Australia’s shipbuilding industry has built more than 60 per cent of the nation’s civil craft. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The capital city of Perth is home to a vibrant beach, food and drink scene. World’s largest-ever animals (bigger than dinosaurs)….and mammals with the smallest birth-weight and largest testicles (relative to size). Similarly, soils in the eastern deserts are red, but they are generally sandy. The main reason was that Western Australia had to Gibson Desert, in the centre of Western Australia. Simple, right? Western Australia is wonderfully weird …. The entire Western Australian wool clip is exported or transported interstate. The King Leopold Ranges in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The State also produces 70 per cent of Australia’s gold and significant exports of salt, nickel, tantalum and numerous other metals. Archipelagoes of granite islands occur offshore. The two major mainland territories are: Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory. Hamersley Range in the Pilbara region of the Australian Shield, in Western Australia. An extensive public rail network services agriculture and industry in the State’s south-west. Western Australia is the largest Australian State. Mount Meharry is the highest mountain in Western Australia at 1250 metres high. The State encourages investment in the tourism sector. Numerous daily air services carry passengers and freight between Perth, the State’s regional centres and other state capitals, especially Sydney and Melbourne. The first inhabitants expanded across the east and south of the continent. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Over 95% is Merino wool measuring less than 24.5 micron, and so destined for apparel. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. AND it’s the sporting capital of the world. Author of, Australia, United States, Canada, or Ireland? Local firms have also achieved success with more elaborately transformed products. The numbers of international and interstate visitors, as tourists, students, conference delegates or business people, are projected to increase significantly over the next 5-10 years. With an area of more than 2 500 000 sq km, a 12 500 km coastline and spanning 2 400km from north to south, it occupies a third of the continent. Processed mineral and agricultural products are the State’s major manufacturing exports. Western Australia’s primary agricultural region lies in the wetter southwestern part of the Yilgarn plateau. In the extreme south, the block rises to an elevation of 3,596 feet (1,096 metres) in the Stirling Range and then drops abruptly into the ocean, resulting in a rugged granite coastline with clean, white sandy bays. Carmen Lawerence. For the first 25 years of colonisation, rum was the official currency of Australia due … Universities regularly participate in collaborative research activities with private sector and government bodies, sharing staff, equipment and information. In the north-west, private rail lines carry ore from inland mines to coastal ports. Farmers and investors are identifying new specialised markets in Asia and taking advantage of seasonal differences with the northern hemisphere. Recent major investments have established facilities producing chemicals, mining and electronic equipment and pharmaceuticals. Western Australia occupies roughly one-third of the total area of the continent. Local firms have adopted new designs, materials and technology to capture an important share of a growing market. A tour of Cape Range National Park, Western Australia. With more than 270 operating mines, Western Australia is a leading supplier of many commodities including alumina, diamonds, iron ore and mineral sands, – monazite; ilmenite; rutile/synruite and zircon. Within a seven-week period in the months of September and October 2011, there were three fatal attacks recorded and another four over the next 25 months. Tourism Western Australia - Australian Holiday Destinations, Travel & Tourism Information. bounded to the east by longitude 129°E, the meridian 129 degrees east of Greenwich The region includes the spectacular red gorges of the Hamersley Range in Karijini National Park. Perth (WA’s capital) is the most isolated city in the world, with its closest city being … With an area of more than 2 500 000 sq km, a 12 500 km coastline and spanning 2 400km from north to south, it occupies a third of the continent. Corrections? Many of these visitors come from Asia, the balance from Australia. The dry, rough country lying to the south of the Pilbara is drained by the Gascoyne River. In 1933, the Western Australian people did not want to be part of Australia any more. There are 9 500 students from overseas. was home to many Indigenous communities. A well-managed forestry industry produces hardwood and softwood timbers and woodchips from natural forests and plantations. Five universities, a state-wide technical and further education system, private vocational colleges and dual public and private school systems cater for more than 500 000 students each year. International shipping can be accessed at Fremantle, the State’s main port and eight regional ports linked to major agricultural and mineral producing areas. Australian. Most of the state is subarid, and the combination of low rainfall and high temperatures restricts most of the population and agricultural activities to the so-called comfortable zone southwest of an imaginary line stretching from north of Geraldton on the state’s western coast to Esperance on its southern coast. To the south of the Kimberley region stand the 26-to-30-foot (8-to-9-metre) linear sand dunes of the Great Sandy Desert. Research and development activities by local and international companies have produced internationally competitive innovations in engine technology, building products, reagents for bio-technology and electronics. 1900. Lake Argyle near Kununurra, Western Australia. Most of its 802mm annual rainfall occurs in the winter months. Perth averages eight hours sunshine per day and 118 clear days per year. Western Australia is host to some 150 species of mammals and several hundred species of birds and reptiles. Western Australia produced 71 million kilograms of greasy wool in 2016/17. A diverse and efficient agriculture sector provides the raw material for a rapidly growing range of processed exports. Before the arrival of European settlers, Western Australia . Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Western Australia is Australia's largest state, with a total land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi), and the second-largest country subdivision in the world, surpassed only by Russia's Sak… In the central southern region and the Nullarbor plain, calcareous loams and stony soils predominate. Western Australia makes up nearly one-third of the . In this quiz you’ll be shown the name of a U.S. or Australian state, Canadian province, or Irish county. Explore the majestic Cape Range National Park in Western Australia and also get a stunning view of the Ningaloo Reef and Yardie Creek. The capital is Perth. It extends about 1,490 miles (2,400 km) from the monsoonal, tropical north to the windswept coastal heaths of the far south. It extends about 1,490 miles (2,400 km) from the monsoonal, tropical north to the windswept coastal heaths of the far south. Updates? Western Australia, is Australia’s face on the Indian Ocean. These include wine, ice cream, barley malt, noodles and fine leather. 5. Usually dry, these rivers become raging torrents during the cyclone season. 32. Who was Western Australia's first Premier? The overwhelming majority of the population lives in the greater Perth area, which is one of the largest metropolitan regions in Australia. Pink Lake Hillier Facts – Western Australia Seen from the air, glistening light-pink surface of a remote lake Hillier looks like icing on the cake. A steadily growing aquaculture industry is successfully providing high value products to specialist markets. The region has deeply weathered (up to about 165 feet [50 metres]), kaolinized, gravelly and sandy soils, from which most nutrients have long been leached. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. A major east-west rail line carries freight and passengers between Western Australia and other Australian States. 33. Who was the first European explorer credited with stepping ashore in Western Australia? The first inhabitants of Australia were the Aboriginals Australians, also referred to as Aboriginal people, are people… Mount Meharry, Western Australia’s highest point at 4,111 feet (1,253 metres) above sea level, is located nearby, about 175 miles (280 km) from the central coast. Wild dolphins have been visiting the shoreline at Monkey Mia virtually every day for over 40 years, making this spot in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area one of the best and most reliable places for dolphin interaction in the world.A 30 minute drive from Denham will bring you to Monkey Mia for a … Aerial view of the Horizontal … Even in the coldest months, minimum temperatures rarely fall below 5ºC. The limestone King Leopold Ranges rise from the southern part of the region. The history of Western Australia. Australia (officially, the Commonwealth of Australia) is divided into 6 states and 2 major mainland territories. 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