Here are some emusing facts about Australia you might not know:
1. Most Australians live in New South Wales
New South Wales has more people than any other state in Australia. 65% of the state’s population lives in the Greater Sydney area. Bonus fun fact about Australia, Melbourne is home to the second-largest Greek population in the world after Athens in Greece.
2. Snakes are worse than spiders in Australia
Australia has plant and animal species, but snakes are the ones to worry about. Spiders get a bad rap, but snakes are worse in Australia. It is the only country in the world where there are more species of venomous snakes than non-venomous ones. The Inland Taipan, known as the most venomous snake, calls Australia home. The last time a spider killed someone in Australia was in 1981.
3. Australia is snowier than you think
During winter, Australia gets more snow than Switzerland. The Australian Alps actually receive more snow each year than Switzerland.
4. Australia fought a war against a bird species and lost
The Emu War of Australia was a conflict between humans and birds. Emus are the second-largest living birds, standing at an average height of no less than 5.7 feet. They have long legs and necks with short wings (less than 8 inches). When emu populations grew and began wreaking havoc on crops, The Emu War of 1932 began.
Soldiers used World War I era machine guns against the emus. It took about 10 bullets to kill a single emu, leading officials to conclude that it wasn’t worth it. One soldier famously remarked, “The emus have proved that they are not so stupid as they are usually considered to be.”
5. Fraser Island in Australia is the world’s largest sand island
Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island off the coast of Queensland. The island is covered in forests and has many notable spots like Champagne Pools and Lake Mackenzie. It’s also one of the best places to spot some of Australia’s dingoes, with around 150 of these wild dogs living on the island.
6. Uluru is sacred for the aboriginal people
Uluru is one of Australia’s most iconic sights and a must-visit destination. Uluru is one of the few places on Earth to be listed twice as a UNESCO World Heritage site, both for its cultural and natural significance.
