Ayers Rock

Along with the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, or Uluru as it is now known, is a very popular tourist destination in Australia.  This rock is enormous, it being 1,150 feet tall, a mile and a half long, and five and a half miles around.  This rock has been said to be totally arresting.  It is said that it absolutely captivates you, making it a very attractive tourist destination.  On certain days you can climb up the rock, a trip that takes several hours, but climbing is restricted and closed off when it is too hot.  Since 1985 the rock has been handed to the Aborigines.  The Aborigines are the native people of Australia.  The Aborigines consider Ayers Rock to be a sacred sight, and do not like people climbing all over their rock.  So how was this great rock formed anyways? According to many geological sources, this rock is known as a bornhardt, or a weather-resistant rock left standing when all other things around it have worn away.  This rock is one hundred million years old, and just like the Great Barrier Reef, is a must see before you die.

Bryson, Bill.  In a Sunburned Country.  New York: Broadway Books, 200

This is a picture of Ayers Rock.  This photo was taken by my uncle who is a proffesional photographer on one of his many trips to Australia.

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's most prominent tourism spots.  On average, 2 million people visit the Reef per year.  That is a lot of people. The Reef stretches 284,000 square kilometers wide and 1,200 miles from top to bottom.  It is bigger than Kansas, Italy, or the United Kingdom.  The Great Barrier Reef is equivalent in measure to the west coast of the United States.  That basically gives you a very small idea of how big the Reef is.  It is also the ocean equivalent of the Amazon Rain Forest because it is teeming with all sorts of wild life.  It contains atleast fifteen hundred species of fish, four hundred types of coral, and four thousand varieties of mollusks.  It is one of the greatest wonders of the world and definitely something to see before you die.

Bryson, Bill.  In a Sunburned Country.  New York: Broadway Books, 2000

Australian Music

Music plays a huge part in Australian culture.  Australians are famous for creating the didgeridoo, a wind instrument.  The Bee Gees originated in Australia and got their start there.  In the modern era, country is very popular, along with Soul R&B and Rock.  Australian rock is also commonly known as "OZ Rock" in Australia and is the most popular music genre.  AC/DC is the most famous Australian rock band, having more than 63 million sales in the United States.  Lillian Roxon, an Australian journalist, is also credited to have written the very first Rock Encyclopedia in 1969.  Australia prides itself on its music.  Below is a video by Missy Higgins, a well known Australian singer.

The Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House was origannly designed by a Danish architect by the name of Joern Utzon.  It took fourteen years to build this magnificent building.  It ended up costing a very weight A$102 dollars.  Work on the opera house started in 1959, and it opened for its very first show in 1973.  To this day the Sydney Opera House is one of the main tourist attractions in all of Sydney, and it is one of the most beautiful and amazing archetictual designs in the world.

Sydney Opera House
Photo Found at:
Maldommayhem. "Artitecture 1, Sydney Opera Houes Before and After." Blogger. 16 November 2010.

The Great Blue Bottle

The Portugese man-of-war, or blue bottle, is a small jellyfish commonly found along the coasts of Australian beaches.  These jellyfish are some of the most dangerous in the world, and their stings are sure to bring a lot of pain.  They are feared by many, but are not invincible. They often become victims to turtles and other small organisms.  If you ever come across one of these squishy fish, I would get out of the water as fast as possible.  Their sting can bring agonizing pain for 20 minutes! If you are unlucky, the stings might cause an allergic reaction and might leave a permant rash on your skin.  Watch out for these jellies!

Bryson, Bill.  In a Sunburned Country.  New York: Broadway Books, 2000