The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-07-07

prepared by the National Geographic So.
eiety, Washington. ID. O.
The summer conference Of the pre-
miers of British dominlons, including
the premier of Australia, and the gen
eral understanding that Australia Is
In close sympathy with the United
States In the matter OF oriental i'm
migration, makes that far-away COM
monwealth Of more than ordinary in
terest to Americans just now.
Australia Is the most Isolated of all
Inhabited continents and is remote
from the center Of all of the worlds
activities. Northward the sailing dis
lance to Japan is approximately 5000
nautical miles; to India, $500 miles.
South America is 1000 miles to the east;
and Africa an equal distance west.
From London to the capital Of Aus
tralia ships by the Suez route traverse
approximately 1000 miles Of water
and by the Panama canal. 1874 miles.
From California ports the routes via
Samoa, or FIJI, or Tahiti cover n quar-
ter OF the circumference of the earth.
Australia's only large civilized neigh
Dor within radius of 1000 miles is
Java.
Few Americans Go There.
The continent, lying thus far out
side the ordinary routes of travel, is
rarely visited by Americans. For most
OF us knowledge of this fascinating
land Is obtained by n study OF n few
pages In the back Of school geog-
nbipg- I,,tI 81 Attg
tralla and New Zealand" and accom-
panied by map Of Australia and
the Islands of the Pacific" on scale
i too small for the recognition OF s.gnif-
lcAnt features,
one Of the first surprises awaiting
the TOURIST from the northern hemi-
/ sphere us to find that Australia and
New zealand may not be grouped as
two Islands OF like appearance, differ
ing mainly In size; near nelghbors
which may be treated as a unit. New
Zealand is nearly twice as far from
Australia as Bermuda Is from New
York, and is not only east but also
south.
The southern coast OF the Aus
trallan mainland has the latitude Of
central New Jersey, while the south
ernmost OF the three islands which
comprise the Dominion of New Zea-
land occupies the position of southern
Newfoundland.
Unique vegetation OF remarkable
variety and beauty. animal life Of by
gone geological periods, and an alb
original population, the lowest In the
scale OF beings having human form,
stand out as features distinctly Aus
trnllan-a never-endlng source OF In
terest to the geographer.
Australia is a large country. II Is
about fourteen times the size Of
France or Germany, twenty-five times
he size OF Italy, or Ecuador, and two
md one-half times the size Of Ar
gentlna, Its chief competitor In the
touthern hemisphere. It's area Is equal
b three-fourths Of Europe, one-thlrd
q all North America, or one-fourth
pf the British Empire The continent
y almost exactly the size and Is near
N the shape OF the United States.
AeVel In Surface, Low In Elevation.
Australia IL the most level In sur
acc and regular In outline of all the
tpntlnents, and even OF most large Is
'ands. II is also the lowest continent
With an average elevation about that
% Ohio Its surface lacks variety.
4ne change from one type Of topog-
NHphy is so gradual, and significant
netural features are so few and so
Nhely spaced that, with the excep-
pqn Of the Murray river, they are not
nHlized In marking the boundaries OF
slales.
4he traveller In search of duplicates
the Canadian Rockies, the Yosem-
~ and the Grand canyon, of Nor
FfSlan fJords and Alpine scenery, need
ppf visit Australia. Its mountain
scenery is that of the southern Ap-
. pulachlans, the White mountains. ana
the low ranges OF Arizona. Its plains
and plateaus are comparable with
those OF the Rocky Mountain foothills
and the arid expenses OF Utah, Idaho
and Oregon.
Although the moutains are low COM
pared with those OF other continents
their Influence Is great, for nowhere
y their control OF rainfall and con.
seqpent distribution OF vegetation and
people better exempllfed. A birds
pc view OF Australia shows a belt of
RRstation extending along Its north,