Australia is divided into several states that make up the Commonwe alth of Australia. Their borders are outlined by absolutely straight lines. Looking at the map of this distant continent, one can see the "horn" of Cape York in the northeast. If you draw a straight line south along the 140th meridian of east longitude from the north, and from east to west along the 28th parallel of south latitude, then the territory bounded by them is the state of Queensland (Australia).
It is the second largest state in the country. It is economically developed and has a variety of natural conditions. The capital of Queensland is the city of Brisbane, which is located on the east coast of the continent.
History
Queensland was founded in 1859 after Queen Victoria signed a decree separating it from South Wales. It could have been called Cooksland in honor of J. Cook, but the Queen of England was more attracted to the name "royal land".
Todaythe majority of the state's population lives in South East Queensland, which includes the capital Brisbane, Redland City, Logan City, Toowoomba, Ipswich, and the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Geographic location
Where is Queensland? The territory of the state is huge - 1,730,648 square kilometers. From the north it is washed by the waters of the Coral Sea, the Gulf of Carpentaria, in the east by the Pacific Ocean. The state borders New South Wales to the south, and South Australia and the Northern Territory to the west.
Besides Brisbane (the state capital), the fifth largest city in the world, Mount Isa, is located here, with an area of more than forty thousand square kilometers. The state of Queensland (Australia) is divided into eleven large geographical areas and three smaller ones (Channel Country, Granite Belt, Atherton), which are located in the southwest of the state.
Flag
The current flag of Queensland was designed by Secretary of the Treasury William Hemmant in 1876.
The first version was a panel with the image of the crown of Queen Victoria against the background of a blue M altese cross. Its design was changed after the Queen's death at the request of the people of the state. Today it is the flag of the Governor of the State.
Brisbane (Australia)
This is one of the most picturesque and popular cities in Australia. It harmoniously combines modern architecture with beautiful nature. The state capital (Brisbane) is located at 27°S. sh. in the state of Queensland. The city is located in the lower reaches of thea river that carries its waters to the Pacific Ocean.
Brisbane, as well as adjacent resort centers, are territories that are a kind of "gateway" to the tropical regions of Australia, where the islands of the Great Barrier Reef are located. Brisbane (Australia) annually attracts thousands of tourists and a large number of immigrants due to its excellent climate. Here it resembles the climatic conditions of the Canary Islands and the US state of Florida. Spring and autumn, when there is no sweltering heat, are most suitable for holidays in Queensland and its capital in particular.
University
The state capital is home to the University of Queensland, an Australian research and teaching institution. A quarter of its students are foreigners from 135 countries. This oldest educational institution in the country has eight world-class research institutes.
University is recognized by the world community as one of the best for the revolutionary development - the world's first cervical cancer vaccine. In addition, a unique system was created here that allows diagnosing autism in children under two years of age. The sights of the city are also the city hall building, Story Bridge, modern skyscrapers, national parks and reserves in the suburbs of Brisbane.
Australia, Queensland: attractions. Daintree National Park
It is in the north of the state. A tropical forest grows on a vast territory (1200 km²), which has preserved its original appearance to this day. How about his agesay experts, more than 110 million years. This is the oldest forest on our planet. For this reason, it is under the protection of UNESCO and the government of the country.
On the territory of this park lives more than a third of all frogs, marsupials, reptiles, 65% of all species of butterflies and bats that exist on Earth. In Daintree Park you can visit the beach, which has an interesting name - "Jumping Stones". Here, tourists will be told about the mysterious rituals performed by the Kuku Yalanji aboriginal tribe.
Mount Tamborine
For travelers from all over the world, Australia is of great interest. Queensland is a state where you can combine a resort holiday with an excursion. The Gold Coast is considered the beach capital of Australia. But when you get bored of basking in the sun, and you want something extreme - go on an excursion to Mount Tamborine. But be prepared for difficulties - the route passes through a very steep slope.
Climbing the mountain, you will see an amazing waterfall: in it, water seems to appear from the void. There really is no river here, so it is completely incomprehensible where the water comes from. Swimming is prohibited here - the waterfall is surrounded by poisonous trees. Their villi, getting on the skin, cause unbearable pain. In ancient times, Mount Tamborine was an active volcano. Today, people live on the crest of the crater, and there are vineyards around it.
Japanese garden
Australia, Queensland to be exact, has the largest Japanese garden. Heis located in the small town of Toowoomba, on the territory of the University of Queensland campus. The garden occupies 4.5 hectares and is one of the brightest examples of garden art outside of Japan. This park is also famous for being a traditionally designed garden.
Its concept was developed for three years by a Japanese specialist - Professor Kinsaku Nakane. The magnificent craftsman, having arrived in Queensland from Kyoto, began to carefully select every little thing: stones, bushes, decorative elements. The professor sought to achieve real perfection, and it must be admitted that he succeeded. The grand opening of the park took place in April 1989.
The Japanese Garden is a public place. Anyone can get here, its gates are always open for visitors who get great pleasure from contemplating the amazing combination of Eastern and Western cultures.
Zoo
Australia is famous for its huge variety of outlandish animals for Europeans. Queensland invites everyone to visit the zoo, which bears the name of Steve Irwin. This amazing person from a young age showed great interest in wildlife. Since childhood, Steve has been catching crocodiles for the park organized by his parents.
Growing up, he turned to documentaries about animals, repeatedly putting his life in danger. Today, the Steve Irwin Zoo covers an area of forty hectares. Here are rare animals that are found only on this continent.and which are not found in other zoos in the world. Visitors are simply mesmerized by the crocodile show.
Theatre La Boiste
Australia's oldest theater is located in the capital of Queensland. He began his work back in 1925 and today is the second largest theater in the state. La Boute is famous for its bold productions, a modern look at the works. The auditorium is designed for two hundred spectators. David Berthold has been the artistic director and director of the theater for many years. Under his leadership, the theater expanded its repertoire and attracted talented actors to the troupe.
Kuranda
This small village in north Queensland became a hippie pilgrimage center in the 1960s. Later, an excellent tourist infrastructure was created in Kuranda. Today here you will be introduced to the customs of the Australian Aborigines, their culture, you can visit numerous amusement parks and even take part in a three-day hike, accompanied by an experienced guide.
The most popular place in Kuranda is Birdworld Park. Hundreds of exotic birds live here under a huge mesh dome. Especially popular among travelers is the old railway, which remains in operation today.
Skyscraper Q1
If you happen to visit Queensland, locals suggest starting to explore the sights of the state from the Q1 skyscraper, which rises above the town of Surfers Paradise. The architects who planned this grand structure were inspired by the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The skyscraper was built in 2005. The building, 323 meters high, has 78 floors and includes more than five hundred apartments, a penthouse with a swimming pool on the 74th floor. In addition to residential premises, there is a gym, two swimming pools, a dance hall, a spa center, and a theater stage. In forty-three seconds, an express elevator will take you to a height of two hundred and thirty meters, where between the seventy-seventh and seventy-eighth floors there is a well-equipped Sky Point observation deck.
It offers stunning views of most areas of the state and the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean. From here, fireworks are launched at state ceremonies, extreme sports enthusiasts make parachute jumps, and here they participate in the Skyscraper Walk attraction. There is also a cinema hall, two large and cozy restaurants and a spacious cinema hall. The skyscraper has ten elevators, and the building itself is installed on twenty-six piles, which are deepened into the ground forty meters.
