How much do you know about Australia? I am betting there is little that you know other than the basic things like they speak differently than we do, was once and English penal colony, etc. All of the things that you most likely heard or saw in a movie or maybe you read them in a book. I thought I would share ten things with you about Australia that I am certain some of you may not know at all.
1. Australia is really wide
Di you know that Australia is as wide as the distance from London to Moscow. Yep it is true but it is measured in as the crow flies.
2. Cockroach Races
This one is so gross but on January 26th there are actual cockroach races. I don’t want to even see the place they find all these nasty bugs.
3. Beamed to the World
In 1969 the first photos from the moon landing were beamed from Honeysuckle Tracking Station, near Canberra. It must have super awesome to be the person beaming those images. Just image you got to see them before anyone else as you do whatever it was they did.
4. Eight Hour Days
Those eight hour work days you have….. you can thank the stonemasons in Australia for them. In 1856 they took action that ensured the standard eight hour work days which is now used across the world.
5. Backwards
The reason that Kangaroos and emus are on the Australian coat of arms is that they can’t walk backwards. I’m sure there is much more to the story than that but it is interesting if you ask me.
6. Drop Bear
If you happen to visit Australia and a local tells you to watch out for drop bears. They are kidding! These were invented to scare the tourists. The same way southern people take you snipe hunting. I fell for that once when I was young. It was horrible and I wanted to slap the crap out of someone.
7. It’s Own Postbox
The Great Barrier Reef is the planet’s largest living structure but you knew that didn’t you? I bet you didn’t know that it has its own postbox. I really want to know what kind of mail it receives. I mean are the fish sending it “Wish you were here” postcards or what?
8. Holy Snow Batman!
The Australian Alps gets more snow than Switzerland! Can you even believe that? Switzerland gets a ton of snow (like literally a ton or more) and I didn’t even know that in snowed at all in Australia. I’m blown away by this one.
9. Drinks! Drinks! More Drinks!
The average Aussie drinks 96 litres of beer per year which is roughly 25 gallons. They also have 60 designated wine regions in the country so you don’t have to worry about finding something to drink. There is more than enough.
10. Take a Selfie
The selfie is an Australian invention! That’s right it all began in 2002 when an annyomus student uploaded a picture of themselves, told the story of images, and then apologized for the focus because it was a “selfie.” Now moms rush out there and impress you kids with this knowledge!
Now you know the ten facts about Australia that I found the most interesting or just plain weird because I can’t get over the whole cockroach races and I suddenly feel the need to call the exterminator. I’m off though to write a letter to Great Barrier Reef and find out if it comes back to me or not! 😉
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I did know that kangaroos & emus couldn’t walk backwards. On the Australian coat of arms the Emu and the Kangaroo were selected as symbols of Australia to represent the country progress because they are always moving forward and never move backwards.
I didn’t know about the Australian Alps. I’d never heard of them.
That’s really fascinating about the 8 hour workday. Thanks, Australia!
Hope to go there soon 🙂