Australia. La Perouse
Not far from Sydney on the coast, in the area of Botany Bay, stands a high stone stele. It was erected in honor of the great French navigator Jean Francois Gallo de Laperouse. But what is the connection between him and Australia? The fact is that after Laperouse sailed from these shores in January 1788, no one else saw him alive. The brave French captain disappeared forever, although further, frankly, not very active searches and gave some information about what could happen to him.
The first European researchers found in Australia neither silver, nor gold, nor spices, nor other useful things. At first glance, this southern land in the Pacific was completely useless. James Cook, who joined New South Wales to the British crown, did not even find fresh water here. At first, he generally decided that this continent was unsuitable for life. Continue reading
James Cook. Discovery of Australia
On April 29, 1770, the heavy and clumsy ship Endeavor anchored in the waters of a charming bay. Among the team of captain James Cook, who went in search of an unknown southern mainland, in other words, Australia, there was also a scientist – amateur botanist of the Royal Geographical Society Joseph Banks. He was so struck by the picture of dozens of plants that were unknown to science of the time that he had discovered that he persuaded Cook to rename the seemingly named bay. Since then, it has been called the Botanical, that is, Botany Bay.
It must be said that the expedition with so many scientists on board went to the expanses of the Pacific Ocean for the first time. In addition to Banks, on board the Endeavor were the Swedish naturalists Solander and Spering, two artists, their assistants – only 11 people. Continue reading
Australia in which dreams come true
..And don’t tell me that this is a stamp that is indecent to use in a decent magazine. Because in Australia, my most important, most childhood dream came true. Behind this dream, it was imperative to go to the ends of the world, because koalas, well, absolutely nowhere else in the world. And here it was necessary to go here for the silvery eucalyptus groves, the most endless watercolor beaches, the funniest Australians and the most serene happiness. But all this I learned already on the spot.
The fact that sooner or later Australia will happen in my life, I realized in the seventh grade. This confidence came to me in the form of a small photograph in a geography textbook (as I remember now, below on the right page): a furry animal of some unearthly charm, tightly hugging the trunk of an eucalyptus. Continue reading
Quisland: from jellyfish to ram lizard
What is Queensland? One of the five states of Australia with a subtropical climate, miles of beaches, the lights of luxury hotels, the noise of the ocean tide and the opportunity to immerse yourself in the brightest exotic.
Do not break corals
The Great Barrier Reef – one of the main wonders on Earth – extends from Papua New Guinea to the South Tropic. A chain of coral reefs stretches for two thousand kilometers, most of which are under water, but some appear on the surface at low tide.
First you need to get to Port Douglas – a pretty place with a spacious pier, where yachts creak with gear and swing on the waves of a boat. Continue reading
The day Australia freezes
Every year on the first Tuesday of November, Australia inevitably falls into a slight insanity. It covers the country for 142 years, long passed directly with genes. They are waiting for this day with lust, preparing to throw out the accumulated charge of emotions in the cherished 3.5 minutes. That is how much the average takes the crown race in the races for the Melbourne Cup.
For the fifth continent, one of the most prestigious races of the world means immeasurably more than just a competition of two dozen eminent horses, whatever the prize pool. By the way, this time it amounted to a record amount of 4 million Australian dollars, or 2.2 million US dollars. This is the day of “absolute democracy”, almost permissiveness, when statuses, positions and titles cease to exist, when you can and should relax, forget about sorrows and worries, completely surrendering yourself to the power of sports excitement. Continue reading
