PENNSVALLEY
58
COPYRIGHT
Australia
Lesson 31:
Natural Resources and Economy of Australia
Remember that natural resources are substances on or in the earth that can bemade into useful
products.One of the greatest natural resources is the people of a nation.More than 20million people
liveon theAustraliancontinent.About 92percent of Australiansareof Europeandescent.Asiansmake
up about 7 percent of Australians.Native Aboriginal people, who came to Australiamore than 50,000
years ago, make up 1 percent of the population. Most Australians, about 85 percent, live along the
eastern coast states and Canberra. The southeast of Australia also is the most industrialized and
ethnically diverse region of the country.
Much of Australia’s industry and economy is based upon its natural resources. Let’s examine the
important natural resources of this arid land.
Agriculture –
Because of poor soil and dry conditions, much of the Australia is unsuitable for
growing crops. However, this does not mean that Australia is unsuitable for farming. Over one half of
the continent is used for sheep and cattle farming. Australia produces one fourth of the world’s wool.
It is the world’s largest producer of sheep and wool. Huge cattle ranches, known as stations, are
important inQueensland,WesternAustralia, and theNorthernTerritory.
Sugar caneandwheat are themost important agricultural crops.Sugar cane isgrownalongcoastal
Queensland.Wheat is grownmainly in the southeast and southwest parts of Australia.SouthAustralia
has suitable climateand soil for growinggrapes.This contributes toagrowingwine industry.Citrusand
orchard fruits are grown along the eastern coast andTasmania.
Forests andFishing
–Becausemost of Australia’s people are located along the coastal areas of
the country, large city ports of Australia have active fishing industries. This is particularly true in the
southeast region of Australia, which includesTasmania.
Timber is obtained from forest resources mainly along the northern and eastern coastal regions
andTasmania. Areas of CapeYork Peninsula have tropical rain forests.
Minerals
–Australia has a tremendous supply of mineral resources.We have learned that mineral
resources can be separated into two groups –
metallic
and
non-metallic
. Australia is aworld leader
in exports of metallic resources, such as iron ore, gold, bauxite, and copper. Bauxite is used tomake
aluminum. Australia is also amajor exporter of uranium.
Some of Australia’s major non-metallic resources consist of fossil fuels, opals, and diamonds.
Australia has large reserves of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas).Much of Australia’s electricity is
generated by coal-operated power plants, although Tasmania is fueled by hydroelectric power. Coal
also is a chief mineral export. Australia is the world’s largest producer of opals. Opals are hard
gemstones used inmaking jewelry. In addition, Australia is the world’s leading producer of clear and
colored diamonds.The largest diamondmine in theworld is located inWesternAustralia.
Because of its isolation, Australia is
home tomostmarsupials andall
monotremes.Marsupials are
mammalswithpouches. Oncea
newborn crawls into itsmother’s
pouch, it is nourishedbyhermilk
until fullydeveloped. About 1/2of
Australia’smammals aremarsupials.
The kangaroo, koala,wombat, and
TasmanianDevil aremarsupials.Monotremes
are egg-layingmammals. Theplatypus and echidna (spiny
anteater) aremonotremes.
A koala and her cub.
