One interesting factor that makes Australia unique is its wildlife. There are animals who make their home in this country that are not found anywhere else in the world. The duckbill (or platypus) and the spiny anteater are two of the world's most primitive animals. Perhaps the best known mammal inhabiting the country is the kangaroo. There is also the well-known koala, a teddy-bear look-alike.

Also inhabiting Australia are possums, a wild dog called a dingo, and a number of birds including the kookaburra, also called the "laughing jackass," the graceful lyrebirds, and the great white cockatoo.

Australia is relatively dry with little rainfall in most regions, resulting in occasional droughts. The northern coast has monsoon rains in the summer, but the winters are almost completely without rainfall. The region that lies north of the Tropic of Capricorn(**) has a tropical climate. The rest has a moderate climate. Summers are usually hot and winters mild enough for sheep and cattle to stay outdoors.

Since Australia is situated in the Southern Hemisphere, winter begins in June and summer begins in December. Just imagine, sunbathing on a sunny Australian beach on Christmas day!

** To read more on the Tropic of Capricorn, see What are the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer? .