Australia is the smallest continent and the largest island in the world. It is also a big and rich country. In fact, only five countries in the world are larger than Australia. The journey from Perth in the west to Sydney, which is the oldest and largest city in the country, in the east, takes four hours by plane. Canberra (Kunbara) - the capital, on which it is located in the east.Australin is a rather low country. Two thirds, mostly in the center and in the west, is desert. There are hills and large dry lacosas. It is very difficult to grow anything in these areas. In the west and in the center of Leda, the temperature in the summer months of AUSTRALIA is often +35 degrees, and most of the territory is empty. Most Australians live in the south and east of the country, where the summer (from November to April) is warm and the winter (from May to October) is not too cold. In winter, many people go to the north of the country, which is a popular place for a winter vacation in the sun. When the British came to Australia in 1788, they gave the name "aborigine" Læba'ri: dani] to the people they found there. The 300,000 Aborigines who lived in Australia at that time belonged to different tribes, and each tribe had its own land and language. They traveled a lot throughout the year to find food and water. They ate plants and fruits and caught animals and fish. They made houses from branches and leaves. Their way of life did not destroy the land where they lived. Aborigines believe that once animals, plants and people lived together and created the world. It was "Dreamtime". There are a lot of songs, stories and plays about it. In special times, the aborigines gathered in large groups. They drew their bodies, danced, sang and made music. After 1788, their lives suddenly began to change. Thousands of Aborigines died from the struggle with the British or from diseases that appeared on their lands. The British also captured many Aborigines.