A post on the history of the discovery of Australia. Who discovered Australia and in what year

50 thousand years before its discovery by European navigators. For centuries, people have lived on arid deserts, in tropical jungles and on the coastal plains of this continent with their rich traditions, culture, religion and distinctive lifestyle. By the time the discovery of Australia by James Cook took place, the indigenous population of the continent numbered over 300 thousand people, speaking 500 languages. And now Australia, the discovery of the continent of which took place twice before the world understood all its significance for the world economy and culture, continues to reveal the mysteries of its thousand-year history.

History of discoveries

The discovery of Australia is the result of centuries of search by the Portuguese, Dutch and English of the southern country (terra australis incognita). In 2006, archaeologists discovered ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs on the territory of Australia, which gave rise to the hypothesis among some scientists that the Egyptians were the first to discover this continent 5,000 years ago.

If we take modern history, scientists agree that the year of Australia's discovery is 1606. It was in this year that the Dutchman V. Janszon explored the northeastern part of Australia - the Cape York Peninsula.

But the story of Australia's discovery is a myriad of mysteries that scientists have yet to unravel. So, the guns found by archaeologists give reason to some researchers to believe that even in the 16th century. The Portuguese have visited Australia, but there is no confirmation in documentary sources of this yet.

Exploring New Holland

The entire 17th century is the history of the discovery and exploration of Australia by sea travelers from the Netherlands, who first called it New Holland.

After the aforementioned Janszon, in 1616 D. Hartog described part of the western coast of the continent, in 1623 J. Carstens made a map of the west coast of the York Peninsula, and in 1627 F. Theissen and P. Nates explored the southern coast of the still unexplored mainland.

In 1642, the chief ruler of the Netherlands India, Anton Van Diemen, sent the famous navigator A. Tasman on an expedition, who discovered the land named after Van Diemen (the modern island of Tasman). On January 29, 1644, a new expedition set off, led by Tasman. The expedition proved that New Holland is a separate continent.

For Holland, the discovery of Australia did not seem to merit much attention, since it already had convenient naval bases in southern Africa and Java, and the island itself did not grow expensive oriental spices valued in European markets. Nothing also indicated the presence of mineral deposits here, species of animals were not yet discovered that could arouse interest among the Europeans of that time.

Exploration of the Australian mainland by the British

More than half a century passed before the work of exploring the mainland after the Dutch was continued by English explorers and travelers. Thus, the expedition of V. Dampir managed to study in more detail the north-western part of Australia and discover previously unknown islands in this area.

And in 1770 the "next" discovery of Australia took place - this time by James Cook.

After Cook, the discovery and exploration of Australia by the British continued: in 1798 D. Bass discovered the strait between the mainland and the island of Tasmania, in 1797 - 1803 M. Flinders passed the continent and made a map with more accurate outlines of its southern coast. It was Flinders who came forward in 1814 with a proposal to change the name "New Holland" to "Australia", and by the 1840s F. King and D. Wiken completed the study and mapping of the coastline of Australia.

The 19th century brought new geographical discoveries to Australia by travelers and researchers from different countries, but already within the continent. As a result, the Great Dividing Range with the highest point of the continent - Mount Kostsyushko appeared on the map of Australia; deserts, endless plains, and Darling and Murray are the deepest.

A complete map of the British colony, which was Australia, was compiled by British scientists at the beginning of the twentieth century.

James Cook and his contribution to the study of Australia

James Cook was born in 1728 to a North Yorkshire farmer. But failing to live up to his father's hopes, he became a cabin boy at the "Frielaw" coal miner in 1745. James was fascinated by the nautical business, and he began to independently study astronomy, algebra, geometry and navigation, and his innate abilities contributed to his career growth: already in 1755 he received an offer to take the place of captain on the ship "Friendship". But James decided to enlist in the Royal Navy, where he resumed his service as a private. Cook quickly rose to the rank of mate, and already in 1757 passed the exams for the right to pilot the ship independently.

James Cook

In 1768, Cook went on an expedition to observe the passage of Venus through the solar disk, as well as to open up new lands for the British crown. It is believed that in 1770, during this round the world voyage on the ship "Endevior", James Cook discovered Australia. Then he was forced to make a stop on a hitherto unknown mainland due to the resulting hole. Having repaired the ship, Cook sent it along the Great Barrier Reef, opening the hitherto unknown strait between Australia and New Guinea.

But the discovery of Australia did not stop Cook in his search for hitherto unexplored lands. Returning to England in 1771, a few years later he again sets out on a voyage in search of the southern continent - the mythical Terra Australis (Antarctica). The conditions of this trip did not allow Cook to reach Antarctica, and upon returning to England, he convinced everyone that the southern continent simply did not exist.

During the Middle Ages, the most incredible legends were made about the wild lands of Australia, calling the Green Continent Terra Australis Incognita, which translates as "unknown southern land."

Back at school, we were told that humanity owes the discovery of this picturesque continent, unique in its kind, to a captain and navigator from England. James Cook... It is believed that for the first time the inhabitants of the Big Earth, and specifically Cook, first set foot on the coast of Australia in 1770.

It turns out that Europeans have been to Australia even before the explorer J. Cook discovered it. Who, then, actually discovered the continent, and in what period of time was it a grand affair occurred?

The first people in Australia appeared about 40-60 thousand years ago... It is they who are the ancestors of the current indigenous Australian population.

Archaeological finds held on the Green Continent in the western part of the mainland in the upper reaches of the Swan River prove that it was during this period that people began to live in this territory.

To this day, it has not been established exactly where the aborigines came from to the Australian continent. But it is known that then in Australia settled immediately several heterogeneous populations... Historians claim that humans arrived on the mainland by sea, thus becoming the earliest navigators in the world.

Who was in Australia before the Europeans

According to some assumptions by historians and archaeologists, there is an opinion that the discoverers of Australia were the ancient Egyptians, who brought from these lands the most valuable eucalyptus oil in those days.

In the course of research conducted in Australia, it was possible to find rock carvings of insects that outwardly resemble a scarab. In addition, the archaeological site in Egypt helped to find out that the mummies were embalmed with eucalyptus oil that was native to Australia.

Even such amazing historical discoveries and, it would seem, irrefutable evidence, many historians and researchers doubt it, because in Europe they began to talk about Australia much later than the heyday of Egypt.

The first Europeans to visit the Green Continent

Yet in the 16th century Europeans have repeatedly tried to open Australia, but the navigators of that time were unable to get close to the mainland due to dangerous shores in some regions of the Green Continent.

A number of scholars believe that the Portuguese were the first inhabitants of Europe to set foot on the coast of Australia.

According to some historical data, it is believed that they did it. v 1509 year visiting the Moluccas.

After living on these Australian land masses for a while, in 1522 they moved to the northwest of the mainland. The presence of Portuguese sailors is proved by the found cannons dating from the 16th century. It is believed that this weapon belonged to sailors from Portugal.

To date, this version is not official. Australians claim that the first European to set foot on the Green Continent was a Dutch admiral Willem Jansson... This fact is indisputable today.

On his ship called Daifken in November 1605 he left the city of Bantam in Indonesia and went to New Guinea. After three months of his voyage, he landed on Cape York Peninsula, on the northwest coast of Australia.

It's important to know! Janszon has explored over 320 km of the Australian coast, making a detailed map of it.

Interesting that Admiral Willem Jansson never realized that he had actually discovered Australia. He took the found land for part of New Guinea and called this territory "New Holland".

Visited Australia after Janszon and another navigator from Holland - Abel Tasman... It was he who discovered the islands of New Zealand, and also entered the western coast of Australia on his detailed map.

It is thanks to the research of Dutch sailors that by the middle of the 17th century Australia began to take shape.

Australia's Official Discovery History

A number of scholars continue to insist that James Cook Is a true discoverer of Australia.

And all because as soon as he visited this continent, Europeans immediately began to come here.

Officially considered that the purpose of Cook's journey was to study the passage through the solar disk of the planet Venus.

But this world-famous navigator, and then a desperate young lieutenant, wanted to find the very same Terra Australis Incognita.

So, the city of Plymouth (England) became the starting point of Cook's round-the-world trip. In April 1769 on the ship "Endeavor" the captain and his crew reached the coast of Tahiti, and a year later he got to the eastern Australian coast. After its discovery, he went on an expedition to this mainland two more times.

It's important to know! James Cook discovered Australia on his voyage around the world in 1768 to discover the "unknown southern land."

So, during the third expedition of Cook in 1778 the Hawaiian Islands were discovered, which became the site of his tragic death. James Cook was unable to improve relations with the Hawaiians. When the navigator made an attempt to capture one local leader, he was allegedly killed in the battle with a blow to the back of the head with a spear.

Australia has always been an attractive territory for Europeans. The mysterious southern lands excited the minds of famous sailors. Of course, because this the mainland is incredibly beautiful and mysterious.

And although there are official versions of the discovery of the Green Continent, a number of researchers found evidence that Europeans visited these lands long before James Cook.

Who discovered Australia? The first explorers of the Green Continent

Think James Cook? But you didn’t guess!

It is not entirely true to say that the primacy in the discovery of the smallest continent of our Planet belongs to the English navigator James Cook. Although the version is considered official, it causes debate among scientists. Historians differ somewhat on this issue. So what's the reason? AND who discovered Australia in fact? Let's figure it out with us.

This question gives rise to controversy in the scientific world. If we talk about when a person's foot first set foot on the territory of Australia, we will hear one opinion. According to another judgment, one should take into account when the first foreigners appeared on the expanses of the Green Continent, although they did not know that they were on a new continent. The third, generally accepted option, says that you need to build on the date when the entire civilized world learned about Australia.

Australia. Sydney Opera House.

Official version

Why exactly James Cook? Thanks to a round-the-world voyage (1768 - 1771), which was led by a famous navigator, everyone around them learned about the existence of another continent. Since then, the Europeans began an active exploration of mysterious Australia, which gives every reason to consider James Cook the discoverer of a new continent.

In search of unknown southern lands, a young English sailor set out in 1868, when his first voyage around the world started. To investigate the passage of Venus through the solar disk - this goal was announced by the leaders of the expedition. But secret prescriptions spoke of the search for Terra Incognita, also called the Southern Continent.

On the eastern shores of the Green Continent, the ship "Endeavor", led by James Cook, turned up two years after the start of the voyage - April 1770. It was this date that historians recognized as official.

Who discovered Australia before James Cook?

• First settlers

The appearance of the ancestors of indigenous people on the lands of the Green Continent was recorded 40-60 thousand years ago. This is confirmed by the finds of archaeologists dating from this period. It is known that the pioneers sailed here by sea. However, it was not possible to establish where exactly their path began.

• Ancient Egyptians

Archaeological excavations carried out at different times in the territory of Ancient Egypt and Australia prove the theory. We know that eucalyptus grows only on the Green continent. How then could the Egyptians embalm mummies with eucalyptus oil? Confirmation of its use was found during the research of many burials. Studying the Australian continent, historians have found drawings of insects that resemble scarabs. Could this mean that trade relations were established between the peoples? Researchers' opinions are mixed.

• Portuguese

Some historians suggest that the Portuguese were the first seafarers among the Europeans to set foot on the lands of Australia. Having visited the Moluccas (1509), travelers began to move inland (northwest). In support of this theory, scientists cite data from archaeological research that took place in the above territories at the beginning of the 20th century. The remains of ship guns found in these places date back to the 16th century. The fragments are reminiscent of Portuguese ships.

There is not enough reliable evidence for all these versions. This gives rise to discussions in the scientific community.

• Dutch

Answering the question who discovered Australia, one cannot ignore the events of 1605, when a naval expedition led by the Dutch admiral Willem Janszon set off for the island of New Guinea. Their path began from the city of Bantam (Indonesia). After three months, the travelers found themselves off the coast of Australia (northwestern part). They carefully researched the lands they found, made detailed maps, but never realized that they had become the discoverers of the mainland. Considering that they are in New Guinea, they called it New Holland.

Any schoolchild knows where Australia is, but who discovered the southern continent, historians find it difficult to give a definite answer. The Portuguese, the Spaniards and the British are fighting for the palm. But before the Europeans, China also knew about the southern continent. And the natives of Indonesia communicated and traded with the natives. Nevertheless, whoever is the discoverer of the mainland, acquaintance with an amazing and unique country will bring you many pleasant minutes and enrich with knowledge.

Geographical location of Australia

The Australian continent is located in the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres. The insular continent is washed by the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The length of the coastline is 35,877 km. Australia occupies 5% of the Earth's land mass and has an area of ​​7,659,861 km². The mainland stretches from east to west for 4 thousand km, and from south to north for 3.2 thousand km.

Extreme geographic points:

1. In the north - Cape York at 10˚ 41 'S latitude. and 142˚ 31''E.
2. In the east - Cape Byron, 28˚ 38 'S lat. and 153˚ 38''E.
3. In the south - Cape South Point, 39˚ 08 'S and 146˚ 22'E.
4. In the west - Cape Steep Point, 26˚ 09 'S lat. and 113˚ 09'E.

The northern regions of the continent are characterized by a warm and humid subequatorial climate. In the center, located in the tropical zone, dry and hot weather prevails. The west coast is frequently rained by the Pacific trade winds. South Australia is characterized by a subtropical climate. The weather in these areas is characterized by slight fluctuations in annual temperatures and moderate rainfall.

On the political map of the world, you can see which countries Australia borders on. In the north, the Torres Strait separates the state from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. New Zealand is located in the southeast across the Tasman Sea. In the south is Antarctica, which does not belong to any country.

The Union of Australia is a federation of the Commonwealth of Nations, led by Great Britain. The queen is considered the nominal head of the country, who appoints the governor-general. Executive power is not vested in the president, but the prime minister, who is elected by parliament. The state includes 6 states and 2 territories. The capital city of Canberra is located in the Australian Capital Territory in New South Wales.

Native people

The indigenous population is made up of Australian aborigines, who are called "Australian Bushmen". The colonization of the mainland began about 40 thousand years ago. This time, archaeologists date the discovered human skeleton, which scientists called "Mungo's man." The aborigines acquired their modern appearance about 4 thousand years ago.

The indigenous people belong to the Australoid race. The Europeans who appeared on the continent in the 18th century identified 500 tribes with a total number of 700 thousand people who spoke 200 dialects that are part of the Nyung language group. The main occupations of the native were hunting and fishing. By 2000, the number of Aboriginal people had dropped to 437 thousand. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the movement for the revival of the culture of the Australian Bushmen has been activated. The total population of Australia according to the 2015 census is 23.8 million.

European settlement

In 1787, the First Fleet from England arrived in Australia, commanded by Arthur Philip. Eleven ships delivered 736 convicts. In Port Jackson Bay, mariners disembarked on January 26, 1788 and began the construction of the first settlement, which would later become the city of Sydney. This day became the starting point of the history of the colony of New South Wales. Over the next three years, two more fleets arrive on the continent with prisoners on board.

Since 1793, free settlers have come to the "green continent". On the land provided free of charge, people begin to engage in agriculture and crafts. At the same time, the labor of convicts is widely used. In search of fertile land, farmers are gradually moving inland. By the beginning of the 19th century, the colony could already provide itself with food.

Discovery history

Ancient geographers hypothesized that in the south of the Earth, where there is a huge continent, untold treasures are hidden. For this part of the earth's land, the name Terra Australis Incognita was fixed. In search of an unknown country, seafarers' expeditions are equipped. Humanity is making great geographical discoveries.

Before the Europeans

Long before the appearance of European sailors on the continent, the aborigines of the northern regions of Australia were in contact with the tribes inhabiting the neighboring islands. The movement was carried out by boats, and coral reefs served as transshipment points. The ties between the islanders and the inhabitants of the mainland are evidenced by the similarity of cultures and languages.

Business relations were established between the Australians and the Makassars, a people living in the southern regions of Indonesia. The natives sailed to the mainland to trade with the aborigines. In addition, the aliens hunted trepang in the coastal seas.

Pioneers

When Vasco da Gama discovered a route to India through the African Cape of Good Hope, Portugal focused its efforts on finding the mysterious "Island of Gold". In 1522, Cristovano de Mendonce disembarks at Roebuck Bay. Two bronze cannons with the Portuguese coat of arms, found by archaeologists in 1960, serve as evidence of the sailors' stay on the mainland. Plots of land with names in Portuguese are engraved on secret medieval maps of the French Dauphin.

In 1605, a Spanish expedition set out from the Peruvian port of Callao in search of the southern mythical continent. The flotilla of three ships was commanded by Luis Vaez Torres. Having discovered the New Hebrides archipelago, the sailors continued their journey west. From the Coral Sea, the travelers went through the strait, which would later be named after the captain. The lands observed in the south were mistaken by sailors for islands, although it was Australia.

Holland, preoccupied with finding routes to Indonesia - the main producer of spices in the Middle Ages - sends a reconnaissance expedition to the shores of New Guinea. In 1605, Willem Jansson set out on a sailing-rowing ship "Golubok" in search of a short route.

Having passed the Arafura Sea on a south-western course, the travelers saw land. This was Australia. And the peninsula, to which the ship approached, would later be called Cape York. On February 26, 1606, sailors disembark near the mouth of the Pennefather River, as recorded in the logbook. The Dutch landing is considered the first documented visit to Australia. In subsequent years, Yanszon's compatriots repeatedly reached the coast of the "green continent".

Dutch sailors who reached Australia:

1. Derk Hartog on October 25, 1616 aboard the ship "Consent" moored in Shark Bay in the west of the mainland.
2. In 1619, Captain de Houtmann sailed along the west coast from latitude 32˚ 30 'to 28˚45' south latitude. Four years later, the route was repeated by Claes Hermansai in Leiden.
3. In 1623, the expedition of Carstens and van Kolster explored a bay in the north of the mainland, which was named Carpentaria. Captured and taken aboard one of the natives, whom the sailors met on the shore.
4. Captain F. Theissen on the "Gulden Zepard" covered 2 thousand kilometers along the southern coast of Australia, making a cartographic survey of the coastline.

William Dampier is considered the first Briton to visit Australia. In 1699, the traveler discovered Shark Bay on the western coast of the continent, however, returning to England, was shipwrecked off Ascension Island. After 70 years, James Cook's expedition took place along the eastern coast of the mainland. In 1788, a squadron under the command of Arthur Philip entered the Botanical Bay. The landing party, mostly composed of prisoners, founded the colony - the future city of Sydney.

James Cook's Journey

James Cook was born to a Scottish farm laborer in 1728. At the age of 18, the young man gets a job as a sailor on a transport ship carrying coal. The young man thoroughly studies marine disciplines. In 1755, James becomes a member of the crew of the military frigate "Eagle" and participates in the Seven Years' War.

At the age of 29, the future discoverer successfully passes the exam for the title of master. In 1758, the skipper directed a cartographic survey of the channel of the St. Lawrence River (Canada) in the area of ​​hostilities under the fire of French cannons. The brilliantly carried out operation was one of the reasons why Cook was appointed to lead the voyage to the South Pacific.

The official mission of the 1768 expedition was to observe the passage of Venus against the background of the solar disk. In addition to astronomical research, Cook was entrusted with the study of the east coast of Australia. The secret part of the order obliged the captain to conduct reconnaissance of the southern seas in order to discover an unknown continent. Geographers assumed that the so-called Terra Incognita - the Unknown Earth - is located in the polar latitudes.

"Endeavor" is chosen for swimming. The ship, built in 1764, was originally called the Earl of Pembroke and was intended to carry coal. The three-masted ship developed a speed of 7.4 knots. In his notes, Cook noted the good seaworthiness and easy handling of the barge.

The Endeavor left Plymouth on 26 August. After 227 days, the ship arrived in Tahiti. On June 3, 1769, observations of Venus and astronomical measurements are carried out. During their stay on the island, the team builds a fort and repairs the bottom of the ship. After completing the first part of the official mission, Cook proceeds to search for the southern land.

Moving along the west coast of New Zealand, British sailors discovered that the territory was divided into two parts. The strait dividing the islands was named after the captain. The cove, dubbed Queen Charlotte's Bay, is undergoing a re-renovation of the Endeavor.

Having reached the southern tip of New Zealand, the expedition turns to the northwest. In the spring of 1770, the travelers reached the shores of Australia. The bay, where the sailors set up anchorage, was named Botanical. The bay got its name due to the variety of plants previously unknown to science.

Continuing north, Cook explores Australia's east coast. On June 11, the ship runs aground and is seriously damaged. After the ballast, spare rigging and part of the guns were thrown overboard, the ship was removed from the shallows. The water entering the hold barely had time to be pumped out by continuously operating pumps. The captain orders to make a stop for the next repair.

Having repaired the holes, "Endeavor" goes out to sea. It turns out that the Great Barrier Reef does not allow access to the ocean. Mariners have to walk along the coast, constantly measuring the depth with a lot. At the same time, the contour of the coastline is drawn on the map.

At the end of 1770, the expedition reached the northernmost point of Australia and turned west. It turned out that between the mainland and New Guinea there is a strait, which was later named Torres. In January 1771, the ship entered the Indonesian port of Batavia. The modern name of the city is Jakarta.

In Indonesia, the crew is plagued by disease. First malaria and then dysentery take the lives of sailors. When the ship dropped anchor in Cape Town's port, there were only twelve travelers on board. When the team was completed, the expedition continued on its way home. On June 12, 1771, the Endeavor docked at the pier in Plymouth Harbor.

James Cook's expedition fulfilled half of the tasks set by the British Admiralty. Measurements taken during the passage of Venus through the solar disk were useful for calculating the distance from the Sun to the Earth. However, the second goal - the discovery of the southern mainland - was not achieved. Nevertheless, sailing on the Endeavor contributed to the development of geographical science.

The results of J. Cook's first round the world trip:

1. It is established that New Zealand consists of two islands separated by a strait.
2. First mapped east coast of Australia.
3. The strait that separates Australia from New Guinea was discovered.
4. A collection of previously unknown plants has been collected, sketches of unique animals and birds have been made.

Discovery of New Zealand

The tribes that inhabited the islands of Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean were considered skillful navigators of the ancient world. The natives built two-body pies 40 meters long and 10 meters wide. The catamaran, which could accommodate up to two hundred people, made it possible to overcome thousands of kilometers across the sea.

The Polynesian epic has preserved the names of famous compatriots who made long sea voyages. Folk legend tells of the leader Kupe, who lived on the island of Raiatea in the 10th century. In pursuit of a flotilla of rival fishermen, the navigator reached the present Cook Strait, and described the discovered lands of New Zealand as the "Long White Cloud".

Abel Tasman is considered the first European to sail to New Zealand. The future discoverer was born in the Dutch city of Groningen in 1603. From the age of 28 he has been sailing on a ship. In 1634 he became the skipper of a ship belonging to the East India Company. In 1642, a Dutch trade syndicate equips an expedition to explore the southeastern Pacific. Tasman is assigned to command a detachment of two ships.

Off the southern coast of Australia, sailors discover a large island, which is named after the Governor of the East Indies, Van Diemen. Subsequently, the name will change to Tasmania. Continuing eastward, the Dutch approach an uncharted land. On December 13, sailors disembark. This was New Zealand's South Island.

The further path along the coast leads the discoverers to the northern tip of the Severny Island. Tasman did not turn southeast, but headed towards the Fiji archipelago. After replenishing food supplies on the island and collecting drinking water, the expedition headed for Indonesia. On June 15, the ships entered the port of Batavia.

Going on a trip, a tourist wants to know what the visited country is famous and interesting for. Australia is famous for its attractions that are unique to it and are one of a kind. First of all, this applies to the Australian nature.

List of plants and animals that are found only in Australia:

• bottle tree;
• eucalyptus is regal;
• kangaroo;
• dingo dog;
• echidna;
• marsupial fox and wolf;
• platypus.

The Australian flag has six stars painted on it. It is the constellation Southern Cross, which indicates that the country is located in the southern hemisphere. The coat of arms of the state includes an ostrich and a kangaroo, which, as you know, move only forward. Animals symbolize the forward movement of Australian society.

Australia has the longest road without bends. The length of the straight section is 146 km. The country is famous for its endless fences. The most famous 5,614 km long dingo dog fence was built in 1885. In the western part of the continent, a fence stretched for 3253 km, which protected from rabbits. A mesh fence is being built to restrict the movement of cats. In the summer of 2018, the construction of the first 44 kilometers of the fence was completed.

Citizens' political activity is supported by fines. Failure to participate in elections and the census is punishable by payment of between 20 and 100 Australian dollars. By the way, the national currency is presented in a plastic version, and not in paper banknotes.

The hallmark of Sydney is the opera house, built in the style of structural expressionism. The building, which was erected in 1973, has a height of 67 m and covers an area of ​​2.2 hectares. Two halls can accommodate 10 thousand people at the same time. The roof is covered with 1 million self-cleaning white tiles. The construction project was created by the Danish Jorn Utzon.

Visiting the green continent will enrich you with knowledge and experience of communication with hospitable people. Studying the history of Australia's discovery, acquaintance with the unique nature, excursion trips around the country will not allow you to regret the time and money spent. Walking around Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne will not let anyone get bored.

Video

The video tells about the discovery of Australia.

Lesson

Geographical location, history of discovery, relief and minerals of Australia

Goals and objectives of the lesson:to acquaint with the physical and geographical position of Australia; to acquaint with the history of the discovery and exploration of the continent; to form an idea of ​​the relief and minerals. Continue to develop the ability to work with cards.

Equipment: to art of the hemispheres and a physical map of Australia, a plan for describing the FGP of the mainland and its relief, the table "Information about Australia", the table "Discovery of Australia", portraits of researchers

During the classes

I. Organizational moment

II. Acquaintance with the physical and geographical position of the mainland

It is located below us.
They obviously walk upside down there,
There is a year turned inside out.
Gardens bloom there in October,
There is summer in January, not in July,
There are rivers without water
(They disappear somewhere in the desert).
There are traces of wingless birds in the thickets,
There the cats get snakes for food,
Animals are born from eggs
And there dogs do not know how to bark.
The trees themselves crawl out of the bark,
There are rabbits worse than a flood
Saves the south from the northern heat,
The capital has no population.
Australia is the opposite country.
Its source is at the London pier:
For the predators, the road was cleared
Exiles and convict people.
Australia is the opposite country.

(Galina Usova)

“... I swear to you that this region is the most curious in the whole world! Its origin, nature, plants, animals, climate ... - all this amazed, amazes and will surprise all scientists of the world. Imagine, my friends, the mainland, which, being formed, rose from the sea waves not with its central part, but with its edges, like some kind of giant hoof; the mainland, where, perhaps in the middle, there is a half-evaporated inland sea; where rivers dry up more and more every day; where there is no moisture either in the air or in the soil; where trees annually lose not their leaves, but their bark; where the leaves are directed to the sun not by their surface, but by their edge and do not give a shadow; where the forest is often incapable of burning; where the stone slabs melt from the rain; where the forests are undersized, and the grasses are gigantic in height; where animals are unusual; where quadrupeds have beaks; where the kangaroo jumper has paws of different lengths; where the rams have pig's heads,where foxes flutter from tree to tree; where the swans are black; where rats build their nests; where birds amaze with the variety of their singing and their abilities: one imitates the striking of a clock, another with the flick of the whip of a post carriage, the third with a grinder, the fourth beats the seconds like a pendulum of a clock; there is one who laughs in the morning when the sun rises, and one who cries in the evening when it sets. The most bizarre, most illogical country that ever existed! The earth is paradoxical, refuting the laws of nature! Botanical scientist Grimar had every reason to express about her like this: “Here it is, this Australia, some kind of parody of world laws, or, rather, a challenge thrown in the face of the rest of the world!” ... ”(Jules Verne.“ Children Captain Grant ")

The teacher begins the lesson by reporting interesting facts:

The word "australis" in translation into Russian means "southern".

Australia is the smallest continent on Earth. Its area is 6 times smaller than the largest continent of Eurasia.

There are no active volcanoes here.

Australia is a continent of relics. There are many plants and animals that are not found anywhere else.

Australia later than others was settled and mastered by Europeans. For a long time, the continent was cut off from the historical processes taking place in other parts of the world. Over the course of many thousands of years, powerful centers of civilization were born in Africa, Asia, Europe, America, and the Stone Age still reigned in Australia. This is the most sparsely populated continent.

The whole continent is occupied by one state - the Australian Union.

Students independently make a description of the physical and geographical position of the mainland according to this plan.

Plan for describing the physical and geographical position of the mainland

1. The name of the continent and its size... Determine the maximum length of the mainland in kilometers from north to south and from west to east.

From north to south: 39 -10 = 29; 29 x 111 km (1 meridian arc - 111 km) = 3219 km

From west to east: 153-113 = 40; 40 x 107 km (1 parallel - 107 km) = 4280 km

2. The position of the continent relative to the equator and the prime meridian.In relation to the equator - the mainland is entirely located in the southern hemisphere, in relation to the prime meridian - entirely in the eastern hemisphere.

3. Extreme points and their geographic coordinates.The extreme points of the mainland: in the north - Cape York, in the south - Cape South East Point, the westernmost point - Cape Steep Point, east - Cape Byron.

4. Neighborhood with other continents.In the north, it is separated from Eurasia by the islands of Southeast Asia, by the Indian Ocean in the west - from Africa, in the south by the Southern Ocean from Antarctica, in the east by the Pacific Ocean - from South America.

5. What and where the mainland is washed by.The coastline of Australia as a whole is poorly indented. It has the most complex shape on the northern coast. If you travel on the map across the seas around Australia, then, moving along the northern shores, from the Indian Ocean we will get into the Arafura Sea, and then into the Carpentaria Bay, deeply cut into the land. Further, the travel route passes along the Cape York Peninsula, with its outlines resembling a triangle, past the northernmost point of the mainland of Cape York to Torres Strait, separating Australia from the island of New Guinea. Your course is now heading southeast into the Coral Sea, which belongs to the Pacific Ocean basin. Accumulations of corals formed the Great Barrier Reef off the eastern shores of the mainland - a creation of nature inimitable in its beauty. It stretches along the coast for 2000 km from the Torres Strait to the South Tropic.

Leaving behind the Great Barrier Reef and the shallow Coral Sea, you head south with the warm East Australian Current. Behind was the extreme eastern point of the mainland - Cape Byron. The route continues in the waters of the Tasman Sea. The shores drop steeply to the water, and the depths build up faster than in the Coral Sea. Turning west, you will find yourself in the Bass Strait, separating the only large island of Tasmania from Australia. Passing South East Point, the southernmost point of the mainland, you enter the waters of the Great Australian Bay. The water in the bay is colder than on the eastern shores, as there are branches of the cold current of the West Winds. In the central part of the bay is the deepest place off the coast of Australia. Its depth is 5853 m. Coming out of the waters of the largest gulf, but not deeply protruding into the mainland, you find yourself in the open Indian Ocean. Here is the westernmost point of the mainland - Cape Steep Point.

6. Conclusion about the geographical position of the mainland.Conclusion: FGP of the mainland affects many natural factors. This is one of the hottest continents, the driest. It receives 5 times less rainfall than Africa, 8 times less than South America. About half of the area is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts.

Filling in the previously drawn table "Information about the continents."

EXERCISE MINUTE

III. History of the discovery of Australia

As the story progresses, the "Discovery of Australia" table is filled in. Even ancient geographers suggested the existence of an unknown southern land south of the equator. In the XVI century. cartographers depicted on maps and globes in the southern hemisphere the huge "Terra australis incognita" - "Unknown Southern Land". Tierra del Fuego discovered by Magellan was considered one of the ledges of this unknown land,

In 1606 a Spaniard Luis Torres discovered the northernmost tip of the Australian Peninsula Cape York, and the strait separating New Guinea from Cape York, named Torres. When Torres informed the Spanish authorities of his discovery, it was decided to keep the discovery a secret, and no one knew about it for over 150 years. Almost at the same time as Torres, a Dutch navigator Willem Jansson also saw the northern coast of Australia, entering the Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1642 g. Abel Tasman discovered the western coast of an unknown large island, which was named Tasmania. Subsequently, A. Tasman bypassed Australia from the south and east and established that it is an independent continent.

In 1770, on the ship "Endeavor" ("Attempt"), an English navigator James Cook sailed to the eastern coast of Australia and declared it an English possession. Soon there was organized a "penal colony" for criminals. Subsequently, free settlers appeared on the mainland. The seizure of the mainland began, accompanied by the extermination of the indigenous population. A hundred years later, most of the natives were exterminated. The remaining indigenous people were herded into the interior desert territories of the mainland.

In the XIX century. more than a dozen expeditions were equipped to explore the interior desert regions of the mainland. For the first time in 1860, an Englishman managed to cross Australia from south to north Robert Burke ... The expedition went from the city of Adelaide to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The development of Australia was facilitated by the discovery in the 19th century of large gold deposits, as well as the availability of convenient pastures for cattle breeding on the mainland. Eyre John Edward, sheep breeder, in 1839-1840. in search of pasture, surveyed the coast of the Great Australian Bight.Look at the map - what did he discover?(Lake Eyre and Torrance).Strzeletsky Pavel Edmund, a Polish emigrant, a geographer and geologist by education. Discovered large deposits of gold and discovered the highest point in Australia.Look at the map, what is the name of this mountain?(Kostsyushko town, 2228 m.).

By the end of the XIX century. basically, the exploration of the mainland was completed. During the same period, England declared Australia its colony. The Australian Union is currently an independent state.

"Discovery of Australia"

IV. Relief and minerals

Working with a tectonic map(atlas, pp. 8-11)

Remember from what ancient mainland Australia broke away?(Gondwana). On a tectonic map, determine what lies at the base of the continent?(most of it is an ancient platform that is part of the Indo-Australian lithospheric plate). This is due to the predominance of flat relief. In the Paleozoic, when mountain-building processes were actively going on on the Gondwana mainland, an area of ​​ancient folding was formed along one of the faults. Later, in the Cenozoic era, the middle-altitude mountains of the Great Dividing Range were formed here. Throughout its long history of development, the Australian mainland has experienced ups and downs. As a result of movements and the formation of faults, part of the land sank to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, the islands of New Guinea and Tasmania separated.

Australia is the flattest continent. Most of it is a plain, the edges of which are elevated, especially significantly in the east. Mountains occupy only 5% of the mainland.

On the territory of Australia, there are three main forms of relief: the Great Dividing Range, the Central Lowland with prevailing heights of up to 100 m, the Western Australian Highlands with average heights of 400-500 m.

Australia is the only continent where earthquakes and volcanism are not observed, since the boundaries of the lithospheric plates are located far from the mainland.

The bowels of Australia are rich in minerals. Ore minerals, such as non-ferrous and ferrous metal ores, owe their origin to the metamorphic and igneous rocks of the platform basement. Their deposits are found in the western and northern parts of Australia. Sedimentary rocks are associated with deposits of coal and brown coal, oil and gas in southeastern Australia.

V. Lesson summary

Who first discovered Australia?

What reasons led to the rapid development of the mainland?

On a map of the mainland, look for place names associated with the names of explorers and travelers.

Which mainland was Australia a part of?

What lies at the base of the continent?

How many lithospheric plates are there at the base of the continent, what are they called?

Where does the collision of lithospheric plates take place?

What landforms are found on the mainland?

How are they located across the continent?

Determine the patterns of distribution of minerals on the territory of the continent

Are there mountain glaciations in Australia? (In the Australian Alps - the highest part of the Great Dividing Range - snow remains in shaded gorges)

Vi. Homework: Section 35