How is Australia a Continent?

Question

It is not made up of a number of country's, which I though was the main requirement for being a Continent. Isn't it part of the UK which is part of Europe?

Answer 1

"Continents are understood to be large, continuous, discrete masses of land, ideally separated by expanses of water." However many of the seven most commonly recognized continents are identified by convention rather than adherence to the ideal criterion that each be a discrete landmass, separated by water from others. Likewise the criterion that each be a continuous landmass is often disregarded by the inclusion of the continental shelf and oceanic islands.

The ideal criterion that each continent be a discrete landmass is commonly disregarded in favor of more arbitrary, historical conventions. Of the seven most commonly recognized continents, only Antarctica and Australia are separated from other continents.

So by the definition given here of what a continent is, Australia is closer by definition to a continent than many others.

In response to your question about the UK, Australia (officially the Commonwealth of Australia) is a "Commonwealth Realm."

A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations that separately recognise Queen Elizabeth II as their monarch.

Here is some information about Australia breaking political ties with the UK:

The Statute of Westminster 1931 formally ended most of the constitutional links between Australia and the United Kingdom when Australia adopted it in 1942. The shock of the United Kingdom's defeat in Asia in 1942 and the threat of Japanese invasion caused Australia to turn to the United States as a new ally and protector. Since 1951, Australia has been a formal military ally of the US under the auspices of the ANZUS treaty. After World War II, Australia encouraged mass immigration from Europe; since the 1970s and the abolition of the White Australia policy, immigration from Asia and other parts of the world was also encouraged. As a result, Australia's demography, culture and image of itself were radically transformed. Final constitutional ties between Australia and the United Kingdom were severed in 1986 with the passing of the Australia Act 1986, ending any British role in the Australian States, and ending judicial appeals to the UK Privy Council Australian voters rejected a move to become a republic in 1999 by a 55% majority. Since the election of the Whitlam Government in 1972, there has been an increasing focus on the nation's future as a part of the Asia-Pacific region.

Answer 2

Too big to be an island as someone else noted. It's also geologically a continent as it sits on it's own plate. By this definition New Zealand and (probably) New Guinea are also continents.

Europe by this definition is not a continent, it is a large peninsula of Asia.

Australia is not part of the United Kingdom. Politically it is a commonwealth and federation which shares the same head of state as the United Kingdom. However to most intents and purposes it is a republic as the British monarch reigns but does not rule. (The pres of the USA rules but does not reign.) There is no right of appeal to any British court and any wars that the UK may get involved in eg Falklands do not affect Australia.

The fact that the republic referendum of a few years ago was defeated had a great deal to do with interference in the referendum process by a slimy royalist prime minister. He ensured the wrong question was put to the vote, thus the referendum was lost. He also got us involved in Iraq. For those two things (not to mention a dozen others) application of a rubber hose or bull-whip appears to be warranted.

Answer 3

there is just one usa in Australia. That usa is named Australia... Australia is a continent in it somewhat is own genuine besides as a rustic. So it somewhat is continent is inhabited through it somewhat is self and it somewhat is self in basic terms. no longer even some microstates. it somewhat is in basic terms the Commonwealth of Australia that inhabits the Australian continent. Oceania isn't a continent. Oceania is a area interior the pacific ocean that includes 14 countries inclusive of Australia, even yet it somewhat isn't any longer a continent. The continent you're speaking approximately is named Australia and Australia is the only usa interior the continent of Australia. there's a clarification why all those different solutions have 10 thumbs down each and each. it somewhat is with the aid of fact they are incorrect. The solutions with the thumbs up are ultimate.

Answer 4

Actually, it's Oceania as a whole but mostly Australia is referred to as a continent but mind you, there are other countries like New Zealand and some others and I bet that they're not a part of Australia. Originally, Australia is a country and the region [continent] as a whole is called Oceania.

Answer 5

Australia is a country, Australasia is the continent. Australasia includes the island of New Guinea and New Zealand. Oceania is a collective name for the island countries of the Pacific and New Zealand tends to put itself there rather than with Australia these days.

Answer 6

It's too big to be considered an island, and technically Australia is part of the "Oceania" continent, which includes New Zealand and many west and south Pacific nations and islands

Answer 7

The characteristics of continents are these:

1. Areas of geologically stable continental crust, or cratons, tectonically independent from other continents
2. Biological distinctiveness, with unique animal and plant life
3. Cultural uniqueness
4. Local belief in separate continental status

http://www.worldislandinfo.com/CONTISLAND.html

Answer 8

Australia has a vast area and its nowhere close to any other continent,Asia being nearest but even then Australia being a distant one,it has been granted the status of a full fledged continent.

Answer 9

Australia is a continent because it was arbitrarily designated as a continent. Being only one nation or consisting of more nations has nothing to do with it.

Answer 10

A continent is no more than a definition!