Australia is divided into several states that make up the Australian Union. Their borders are outlined by absolutely straight lines. Looking at the map of this distant continent, you can see the “horn” of Cape York in the northeast. If you draw a straight line along the 140th meridian of east longitude from the north , and along the 28th parallel of the south latitude from east to west, then the territory limited by them is Queensland (Australia).
By size it is the second state of the country. It is economically developed and has a variety of natural conditions. Queensland's capital is Brisbane, which is located on the east coast of the continent.
History
The state of Queensland was founded in 1859, after Queen Victoria signed a decree to isolate him from the territory of South Wales. He could have been called Kuksland in honor of J. Cook, but the Queen of England was more attracted by the name "royal land."
Today, most of the state’s population lives in Southeast Queensland, which includes the capital Brisbane, Redland City, Logan City, Toowoomba, Ipswich , as well as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast .
Geographical position
Where is Queensland located? The state is huge - 1,730,648 square kilometers. In 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 with New South Wales in the south, and with South Australia and Northern Territory in the west.
In addition to Brisbane (the state capital), here is located the fifth largest city in the world - Mount Isa, whose area is 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 Queensland flag, in its current form, was designed by Secretary of State Treasury William Hemmant in 1876.
The first option was a cloth depicting the crown of Queen Victoria against a blue Maltese cross. After the death of the Queen, its design was changed at the request of the residents 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. w. in Queensland. The city is located in the lower reaches of the river of the same name, which 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) attracts thousands of tourists and a large number of immigrants every year due to its excellent climate. It resembles the climatic conditions of the Canary Islands and the American state of Florida. For holidays in Queensland and its capital in particular, spring and autumn, when there is no sweltering heat, are most suitable.
University
The capital of the state is the University of Queensland, a research and educational institution in Australia. A quarter of its students are foreigners from 135 countries. This is the oldest educational institution in the country has eight world-class research institutes.
The university is recognized by the world community as one of the best for its revolutionary development - the world's first cervical cancer vaccine. In addition, a unique system has been created here to diagnose autism in children under two years of age. The sights of the city are also the City Hall, Story Bridge, modern skyscrapers, national parks and reserves in the Brisbane suburbs.
Australia, Queensland: Attractions. Daintree National Park
It is located in the north of the state. On a vast territory (1200 km²), a tropical forest grows, which has preserved its original appearance to this day. And his age, according to experts, is more than 110 million years. This is the oldest forest on our planet. For this reason, it is protected by UNESCO and the government.
More than a third of all frogs, marsupials, reptiles, 65% of all species of butterflies and bats live on the territory of this park. In Daintree Park, you can visit the beach, which bears an interesting name - "Jumping stones." Here, tourists will be told about the mysterious rituals conducted by the Aboriginal tribe Kuku Yalanji.
Mount Tamborin
Australia is of great interest to travelers from all over the world. Queensland - a state in which you can combine a spa holiday with a sightseeing. 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 Tamborin. But be prepared for the difficulties - the route passes through a very steep slope.
Climbing a mountain, you will see an amazing waterfall: in it, water appears as if from a void. There really is no river, so it is completely unclear where the water comes from. Swimming is prohibited here - poisonous trees surround the waterfall. Their villi, getting on the skin, cause intolerable pain. In ancient times, Mount Tamborin was an active volcano. Today, people live on the crest of the crater, and around it are vineyards.
Japanese garden
Australia, Queensland more precisely, has the largest Japanese garden. It is located in the small town of Toowoomb, on the Queensland University 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 the fact that it is a traditionally designed garden.
Its concept for three years was developed by a Japanese specialist - Professor Kinsaku Nakane. The magnificent master, 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 I must admit, he succeeded. In April 1989, the grand opening of the park took place.
The Japanese Garden is a public place. Anyone can get here, its gates are always open for visitors who take great pleasure in contemplating an amazing combination of eastern and western cultures.
Zoo
Australia is famous for a huge variety of animals unusual for a European. Queensland invites everyone to visit the zoo, which bears the name of Steve Irwin. This amazing man from a young age showed great interest in wildlife. Since childhood, Steve for crocodiles was caught for a park organized by his parents.
Growing up, he took up documentary films about animals, repeatedly endangering his life. 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 fascinated by the show with crocodiles.
La Bauat Theater
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 Baut is famous for its bold productions, a modern look at the works. The auditorium is designed for two hundred spectators. For many years, David Berthold has been the artistic director and director of the theater. Under his leadership, the theater expanded its repertoire, attracted talented actors to the troupe.
Kuranda
This small village in northern Queensland became a hippie pilgrimage center in the sixties of the last century. Later, an excellent tourist infrastructure was created in Kuranda. Today you will be introduced to the customs of the Australian aborigines, their culture, you can visit the numerous amusement parks and even take part in a three-day trip, accompanied by an experienced guide.
The most popular destination in Kuranda is Birdworld Park. Here, under a huge mesh dome, hundreds of exotic birds live. Especially popular among travelers is the ancient railway, which remains valid today.
Skyscraper Q1
If you happen to visit Queensland, locals offer to start exploring the sights of the state from the Q1 skyscraper, which rises above the town of Surfers Paradise. The architects who planned the construction of this grand building were inspired by the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The skyscraper was built in 2005. The 323-meter-tall building has 78 floors and includes more than five hundred apartments, a penthouse with a swimming pool on the 74th floor. In addition to living quarters, there is a gym, two swimming pools, a dance hall, a spa, and a theater stage. In forty-three seconds, the express elevator takes 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 celebrations, extreme lovers make parachute jumps, and here they also take part in the "Walking along a Skyscraper" attraction. There is also a cinema hall, two large and cozy restaurants and a spacious cinema hall. There are ten elevators in the skyscraper, and the building itself is installed on twenty-six piles that are forty meters deep in the ground.