Australia is the sixth largest country in the world in terms of territory, and it is the only country occupying a whole continent. The Australian Union includes the Australian mainland and several islands, the largest of which is Tasmania. On the territory of the mainland, diverse nature coexists with modern densely populated metropolitan areas. Although most of the continent is occupied by semi-deserts and deserts, Australia has a variety of landscapes: - from alpine meadows to the tropical jungle. Australia has become home to unique species of flora and fauna, some of which are not found elsewhere in the world.