Australia is the smallest of the seven continents of the world. It has an area of 8.5 million square kilometers, and an estimated population of 31.26 million. It is comprised of three countries — Australia, Papua New Guinea, and some parts of Indonesia.

Because most of the continent’s landmass is occupied by the country of Australia, which is the sixth largest country in the world with an area of 7.74 square kilometers, the continent is often called an “island continent.” The continent borders the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, and has a coastline that measures 25,760 kilometers.

According to archaeologists, Australia used to be connected to Antarctica millions of years ago, and this super landmass is known as Gondwana. When the Indo-Australian Plate started to drift, Antarctica was separated from the super continent, but Australia and New Guinea remained intact. By the end of the last age, sea levels rose and resulted to the separation of Tasmania and New Guinea from the mainland.

Australia is the flattest and lowest continent, and together with Antarctica, it also is the driest. Australia’s highest point is Mount Kosciuszko, located in New South Wales in the Australian mainland. It is 2.228 kilometers above sea level. The lowest point is Lake Eyre’s dry bed, located in South Australia, and it measures 15 meters below sea level.

About a fifth of Australia’s land area is desert. The rate and frequency of rainfall varies, with the tropical portions and many coastal locales experiencing the highest intensities. Some areas are abundant with tropical rainforests, some with deserts, and the others with snow-capped mountains.