01. Geography and Climate, 2003
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/01/2003
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Australia comprises a land area of about 7,692,024 square kilometres (see table 1.1). The land lies between latitudes 10 degrees 41 minutes south (Cape York, Queensland) and 43 degrees 38 minutes south (South East Cape, Tasmania) and between longitudes 113 degrees 09 minutes east (Steep Point, Western Australia) and 153 degrees 38 minutes east (Cape Byron, New South Wales). The most southerly point on the mainland is South Point (Wilson's Promontory, Victoria) 39 degrees 08 minutes south. The latitudinal distance between Cape York and South Point is about 3,180 km, while the latitudinal distance between Cape York and South East Cape is 3,680 km. The longitudinal distance between Steep Point and Cape Byron is about 4,000 km.
The area of Australia is almost as great as that of the United States of America (excluding Alaska), about 50% greater than Europe (excluding the former USSR) and 32 times greater than the United Kingdom. Tables 1.2 and 1.3 show the area of Australia in relation to areas of other continents and selected countries.
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