15 Interesting Facts You May Not Know About Australia 1. Australia is the only country in the world that is also a continent, and it is the sixth-largest country by land area. 2. The Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Queensland, is the largest living structure on Earth and can be seen from space. 3. Australia is home to the world’s deadliest animal, the box jellyfish, whose sting can cause heart failure and death within minutes. 4. The country is known for its unique wildlife, including the platypus, one of the few mammals that lay eggs, and the kangaroo, which can’t walk backwards. 5. The Outback, the vast and remote interior of Australia, is one of the most sparsely populated areas in the world, with huge stretches of desert and iconic red rock formations. 6. Australia’s national symbol, the emu, is the second-largest bird in the world, capable of running at speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph). 7. Australia has 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Tasmanian Wilderness, Uluru, and the Sydney Opera House. 8. Australia is home to some of the oldest living organisms on the planet, such as the 5,000-year-old Clonal Trees of the Gondwana Rainforests. 9. The world’s longest fence, known as the Dingo Fence, stretches for over 5,600 kilometers (3,480 miles) and was originally built to keep wild dogs away from fertile farmland. 10. Sydney’s iconic Opera House is not just an architectural marvel; it has over 1,500 rooms and hosts more than 1,500 performances each year. 11. The Australian Alps receive more snow than Switzerland each year, making them a hidden gem for winter sports enthusiasts. 12. The country boasts some of the world’s most poisonous creatures, including the inland taipan, which is the deadliest snake, and the stonefish, which can cause severe venomous injuries. 13. Australia is the birthplace of surfing, and its beaches, like Bondi Beach, are world-renowned for their perfect waves. 14. Australia is one of the world’s leading producers of opals, and the town of Coober Pedy is famous for its underground homes built to escape the extreme heat. 15. Australia was once part of the supercontinent Gondwana and is home to some of the oldest rocks on Earth, found in places like the Yilgarn Craton.
