The Argentina will compete against a country that may be foreign to the world of football, such as Australia, this Saturday in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar. But this oceanic country is also full of rarities for Argentines. Here we tell you the top 5.
1. The largest country in Oceania, but one of the least populated.
In fact, at 7.7 million square kilometers, it is the sixth largest country in the world, surpassed only by Russia, Canada, China, the United States and Brazil. But with 25.69 million inhabitants (2020 data), it is one of the most depopulated areas. Up to 28.5% of the population were born outside Australia or have a foreign-born parent. Melbourne is home to the largest Greek community on the planet.
2. It was colonized by… prisoners.
The British colonization of Australia involved the sending of around 160,000 prisoners between the end of the 18th century and well into the 19th century. It should be noted that they were accused of petty crimes, in some cases rebellion against the crown. The acronym POME (Prisoners of Mother England) is written on the uniforms. That’s why the Australians call the British “Pommies”.
3. Home to the largest herd of camels in the world.
Official estimates suggest that as many as 1 million of them roam the interior of the country. How did that number come about? These animals were imported from Arabia, India and Afghanistan in the 19th century for transportation and heavy labor purposes. But with the invention of the internal combustion engine, camels were no longer necessary and it was decided to release several camels into the wild.
4. A unique ecosystem.
Due to its long isolation from the rest of the world, which is linked to its very special geographical location, Australia has a unique ecosystem. It is because the inhabitants did not receive visits from other civilizations for centuries. The reason why customs regulations are particularly strict and restrictive is not because of paranoia like in other countries, but because we know that the importation of species, animals, etc. that are foreign can have a particularly negative impact on the country.
5. The name Kangaroo was not Kangaroo.
Legend has it that when European explorers asked the natives the name of this strange leaping animal, they replied “kangaroo” in their language, meaning “I don’t understand you.” The visitors understood that this was the name of the animal and it was baptized in this way. It is the typical Australian animal and symbol of the country.
