The Outback
What are "cowboys" and "cowgirls" called in Australia?
Jackeroos and jilleroos.
Where is Port Arthur and what can visitors still see when visiting?
Port Arthur is on the island of Tasmania. Visitors can still see the stone prison cells where convicts served out their sentences.
What does taboo mean? What was taboo to do in some islands and why?
Taboo means forbidden. In some islands it was taboo to touch the chief or even his shadow because doing so would affect his mana.
What animal outnumbers humans in Australia?
Kangaroos.
Australia is the only country that is also a what?
Australia is the only country that is also a continent.
What dangers and worries do the citizens or residents of the Outback face?
Bushfires, floods, and droughts are all worries for the residents.
Which British explorer sailed to Australia's eastern coast, in what year, and--when they claimed the land--what did they call it?
Captain James Cook sailed to Australia's eastern coast in 1770. He claimed the land for Britain and called it New South Wales.
What were the ancient inhabitants of Easter Island known for?
Their giant stone figures, myserious writing system, and spearheads made of obsidian.
Who set the record for shearing sheep by hand, how many sheep were clipped, and how long did it take?
How tall is the Wave Rock, what is it made of, how was it created, and how long ago was it formed?
The Giant Wave Rock is a fifty-foot high wave-like rock made out of solid granite. It was carved (created) by wind and water 2,700 million years ago.
How did Outback children get their education and how did it work?
Through the School of the Air. Children who live far from schools have lessons over the airwaves by two-way radio or phone. They mail in their homework and get back corrections from teachers.
In 1788, how many ships of Britian's First Fleet carrired convicts to Australia and how many men and women were there, as well as how many British soldiers guarding them?
There were 11 ships that carried about 550 men and 200 women. Around 250 British soldiers guarded them.
How far is New Zealand from Australia, what direction from Australia is it, and how many mountainous landmasses does it have?
New Zealand is 1,000 miles south-east of Australia, New Zealand has two mountainous landmasses.
What other bird is larger than the emu, how fast can the emu run, what do they eat, and why did they and other flightless birds begin to become extinct?
The ostritch is the only bird larger than the emu. Emus can go up to 30 mph (miles per hour, or 48 kilometers).
Why is driving through the Simpson Desert not easy, what does it force drivers to do, what must they carry, and how hot can it get?
Drivers have to be prepared. They must carry water bottles and at least two spare tires, especially in the summer. In the hot months, temperatures can reach 140 degrees farenheit.
What kind of new arrivals were put to work farming to feed the colony?
Murderers, thieves, and poor people sent away for failing to pay their debts.
What year did European settlers begin to arrive in Polynesia, what did the Europeans call the native people of Polynesia, and why did wars start to break out.
European settlers arrived to Polynesia in the 1820s. They called the native people Maori, meaning "ordinary man". Wars began to break out when Europeans began to claim the Maori's lands.
Why are koalas at risk today? What other hazards does modern life present to them?
Koalas are at risk today in large part becuase of the destruction of their lush habitat: forests of eucalyptus trees. Modern life presents many hazards for them. Many are run over by cards or drown in swimming pools as they search for food.
Where do barrier reefs lie, how long does the Great Barrier Reef stretch, where is it located, how many individual reefs does it have, as well as how many islands?
Barrier reefs lie close to the shoreline. The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 1,250 miles along the country's noth-eastern coast in the Coral Sea. It has about 2,500 individual reefs and more than 900 islands.
How do people get medical attention in the Outback, who arrives to help, and what do they do with seriously ill patients?
The Royal Flying Doctor Service offers medical care to people in the Outback. Airborne nurses and doctors arrive to help out in emergencies, and fly seriously ill patients to city hospitals.
Where did the British used to send their prisoners and why did the British have to a new place to send lawbreakers?
The British used to send the prisoners to the American Colonies. However, after the United States won its independance, the British had to find a new place for lawbreakers.
What year did Britain claim New Zealand as a colony, what treaty did they make, what happened as a result of the treaty, and what did the New Zealand government do in the 1990s?
Britain claimed New Zealand as a colony in 1840, and with the Treaty of Waitangi, promised to respect the native people's land right. The treaty was not kept, and as a result, the Maori people fought for their traditional culture. In the 1990s, the New Zealand government began to return land and make payments to Maori groups.
Male bowerbirds decorate their bower. What is a bower, why do they decorate it, and how do they decorate it? Additionally, what do some species do?
A bower is a nesting area. They build them to attract a mate. They use flowers, leaves, and shiny objects stolen from humans. Some species paint the bower using a stem brush and dyes made from plants.
What were the first Australians called, how long ago did they settle there, what do they have a deep respect for and why?
Aboriginals, or the first Australians, settled the lands more than 40,230 years ago. They have a deep respect for the land and a close link to it through their religious beliefs. According to their beliefs, everything was created by the ancient ones, the Sky Heroes, in the long-ago Dreamtime.