It is often referred to as being down under , because it lies completely within the Southern Hemisphere. Australia is a dry, thinly populated country. Most people live in the southeast coastal region. Australia is famous for bright sunshine, vast open spaces, enormous numbers of sheep and cattle, and unusual wildlife, including kangaroos, wombats, and platypuses. The climate is sunny and warm, therefore most people like to be outdoors.
Team sports are very popular, such as cricket, rugby and soccer.
Ayers Rock, in central Australia, is a popular tourist attraction. The Great Barrier Reef is the world s largest coral reef and also quite popular. It is actually a chain of more than 2,500 reefs, including many small islands. The warm waters and the beauty of the coral reef, attract swimmers and skin divers. There are a number of nice resorts in this area.