Winter temperatures in Australia. When is the best time to vacation in Australia?

We are all accustomed to the fact that December, January, and February are a time of snow and cold. In Australia at this time hottest season, they don’t even think about snowfall there!

Their spring is like our autumn, and their summer is like winter. It sounds contradictory, but let’s look at the weather in Australia by month and know when it’s best to go on vacation to this unusual country for us.

Climate of Australia

Australia ranks 6th among all continents in area and is famous big amount, so the climate on the mainland driest in the world.

Do not forget that Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, and this is where all the subtleties of the country’s weather conditions begin.

Let's move on to the main thing, what is the weather like in Australia? The continent is located on three warm climate zones:

• subequatorial;
• tropical;
• subtropical.

Statistics also show that prevailing wind in Australia - southern, and the rarest - southwestern.

Worth mentioning about the island Tasmania located near Australia. In the summer, snow falls there, although it melts quickly, but little penguins live there.

Seasons: what is the weather and air and water temperatures by month?

We are all used to thinking that - one of hottest continents peace, this is partly true. But in certain periods, not everything is as smooth as it seems.

in winter

December. Australia experiences a hot summer during this period. Tourists may even be prohibited from visiting the central part due to extreme heat. The weather in the northern hemisphere has an average air temperature of +36°C, at night the minimum value is +32°C, and the sea is still warm - +30°C.

On the south side quite warm. The average temperature per day is +22-26°C, the water can warm up to +21°C.

But the island of Tasmania is taking its toll, and there the air temperature is not lower than +20°C.

January. Temperatures reach their highest levels of the year. In the north we observe the following situation: the temperature in Darwin can reach +39°C, at night - +29°C, the rainy season begins, the number of rainy days varies from 3 to 10 days.

Cities in the south in January have the most comfortable climate. The average air temperature is +25°C, at night - +23°C, the water warms up to +24°C. There are about 7 rainy days, precipitation falls 84 mm.



February. The real rainy season begins in February, although it is still quite warm. In some regions, due to heavy rains, the road may be closed and tourists may not be allowed to enter to avoid an accident.

In the North it falls the most a large number of precipitation: approximately 180 to 260 mm. But the heat makes itself felt, for example, in Darwin at this time average temperature air - +33°C, and water - +22°C. Southerners still have the same number of rainy days as in January, with an average rainfall of 83 mm. In Sydney, temperatures can reach +26°C, at night - +19°C.

in spring

March. This month marks the transition from the rainy season to the dry season, it becomes cooler, the heat recedes and beach season together with her. First, let's figure out what's happening in the southern part of the mainland. The daytime temperature drops to +23°C, and at night it reaches +20°C, the water temperature is +22°C.

Precipitation in the south is almost doubling compared to the previous month.

In the north, the situation is almost identical. The average daily temperature drops to +22-25°C, but precipitation is already 103 mm.

• April. Having survived the rainy season in March, drought begins. The weather is favorable throughout the continent. Almost everywhere the average air temperature is +20-25°C, sea water is +19-22°C. Precipitation in the south is 16 mm, in the north - 65 mm. On the island of Tasmania, the weather stays at +19°C, and precipitation totals 48 mm.

May. It’s not a bad month for tourists to visit the country – the precipitation has already stopped, and the weather is becoming quite warm. On average, all regions of the country receive 20 mm of precipitation.

In the North, the temperature rises again and reaches - +31°C, at night +24°C, the water in the Indian and Ocean warms up to +28°C. In the southern part, the daytime temperature is +20°C, at night - +12°C. This is quite favorable conditions for city tours.

In summer

June is the first month of winter for Australians, and for them it is the coldest.

South The continent is occupied by the cities of Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide - during the day the temperature reaches up to +20°C, at night it can be +11°C, and there may even be precipitation of approximately 58 mm. The water temperature fluctuates - +12-19°C.

In the north– Darwin, Cairns – warmer weather than in other regions, but for local residents this is the coldest season, the temperature there drops to +29°C, and at night - +20°C. The water is heated to +25°C.

The coldest place at this time is on the island of Tasmania, where the temperature can drop from +11°C to +4°C.

July. This month is already cold for the entire country as a whole.
In the south, the average temperature is +9-18°C, and at night it drops to +1°C. Ocean water is +13-15°C.

What will surprise the north in July? It is, of course, much warmer here than in the south. The indicators record an average temperature of +19-30°C, at night -+20°C. The water in the ocean is quite warm - +24°C.

1. August. On the third and last month summer, the weather normalizes and becomes moderate. In the north the temperature can already be between +28-31°C, and it is also quite warm at night. And the water temperature reaches +28°C. It is still cool in the south, +17-19°C during the day, +10°C at night. The average temperature in the ocean is +15°C.

in autumn

When is the best time to relax?

Many people now know that the climate in Australia is very diverse. But this will not prevent you from enjoying the most beautiful landscapes of cities, seeing exotic animals of Australia, learning undersea world and its inhabitants.

Holiday season

In autumn, a large number of cultural and entertainment programs. Tourists often visit during this period winery(Margaret River area), get acquainted with local cuisine, visit exhibitions and theaters.

IN winter time worth paying attention to family and other tourist resorts that will help you fully relax and have a great time.

In spring, locals and tourists love to go fishing. Australia is surrounded by two oceans, so there will be no problem with fishing spots. The water is quite cold, but this does not interfere with surfing, because it is in the fall the highest waves– especially on the Gold Coast.

IN summer period Australia is famous for its ski resorts . For example, a snowy slope in Victoria. Some people prefer to visit the center of the mainland - Simpson Desert and go on a jeep safari there, others go diving.

In contact with

Australia, remote from all other continents and continents, exists in a separate world. The fact is that this small continent is surprisingly rich in natural and climatic features.

Weather in Australia now:

There are majestic deserts here, beautiful rainforests, snow-capped mountains, a wide variety of nature and fauna. main feature Australia's climate is that summer begins in December and winter in June. Amazing, isn't it? In fact, such a distinctive feature is characteristic of all countries that are located in Southern Hemisphere.

Australian climate by month:

Spring. (Australian autumn)

From March to May the golden age begins in Australia. autumn time. All the forests, parks and reserves of the country are being transformed: the red-golden hue of the trees captivates the eye, and numerous tourists flock to Australia just for this. The trees in Orange and the cloud forests in the Yarra Valley are especially beautiful. Autumn is a traditional time for various wine and culinary festivals, one of which is held in Orange. The country's vineyards always provide an opportunity to enjoy the magnificent and delicate taste of wine, in the preparation of which Australians have their own traditions. April 25 is a special date; on this day, residents of the country honor the memory of men and women who gave their lives in wars. Various events are held throughout the country, primarily dedicated to memory and gratitude.

Summer. (Winter season in Australia)

Winter is rightfully considered best time year in Australia, when you can fully enjoy swimming in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef or snowboarding in the snow in Victoria. Winter begins in June, and the air temperature rarely exceeds 20 degrees, and this is also the time of the rainy season (although it does not occur as often as, for example, in Britain). Particularly beautiful in winter wild nature: kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, pelicans and many other representatives of the fauna will surprise guests of the country with their beauty. Of course, the underwater world also looks amazing: corals, exotic fish - you can admire all this by visiting one of the many diving centers in the country.

Autumn. (Australia's Wonderful Spring)

Spring, which runs from September to November in Australia, combines the features of the other three seasons. For example, you can spend time on one of the country's beaches, or you can go to the Kangaroo Islands and watch how wildlife blooms. The spring climate is very similar to autumn: not too hot and not too cold. Local residents are especially happy about spring, because green continent is slowly starting to bloom bright colors. The main national event in the spring is the Melbourne Cup (horse racing). The whole country watches these races, and many residents traditionally place bets, watching with great interest the ups and downs of the race at the hippodrome.

Winter. (Australian summer)

It's hard for us Europeans to believe, but the driest and hottest time in Australia is from December to February. In some places of the mainland (the central part and areas close to the desert), the air temperature warms up to +40 degrees in the shade. Full summer begins around November, and tourists are advised to visit the southern cities of the country, because the temperature is summer days It rarely exceeds +30 degrees there. But the main thing distinctive feature The Australian summer has a dry climate: there is practically no rain, and the dry weather sometimes lasts for a very long time. However, on December 25, Australians, like all Catholics, celebrate Christmas, and on January 26, residents of the green continent celebrate Australia Day.

The hottest time of the year is from November to January, at this time throughout the country the temperature ranges from +20 C to +32 C, and in central regions can reach +38-42 C. Moreover, already 1.5 - 2 hours after sunset, the temperature can drop by 10-12 C. On the Pacific coast and the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, the weather at this time is milder. It is relatively cold in June - August, the temperature rises no higher than +15-18 C, and in temperate zone sometimes it drops to 0 C. It rains almost at any time of the year, but the wettest months are summer. Some regions experience periods of drought or floods every year.

Temperature by month:

March

June

July

Nov

Canberra

Australia lies in latitudes ranging from subequatorial in the north to subtropical in the south, and only the island of Tasmania lies almost entirely in the temperate zone. In accordance with this geographical location One of the main factors influencing the climate of the continent is the high total solar radiation, reaching 140 k/cal per cm2 per year in the north-west. Compared with South Africa and South America, south of the equator, Australia is more extended from west to east. With a weakly dissected coastline, this causes constantly high temperatures in the interior and gives the right to consider it the hottest part of the land in the southern hemisphere. The climate of most of the continent is continental. Sea air, which sometimes penetrates far into the deep regions from the north and south (favored by the absence of orographic barriers), quickly warms up and loses moisture. The East Australian Mountains trap moist winds from the Pacific Ocean flowing from the western periphery of the South Pacific High and separate the oceanic from the continental sectors. The climate of these narrow coastal sectors is influenced by the warm East Australian Current. The Darling Ridge also limits the narrow oceanic sector of the Mediterranean climate to the southwest. The coastal strip in front of it is somewhat cooled by the weakly expressed cold Western Australian Current. The coast north of the Darling Range is exposed to winds flowing from the eastern periphery of the South Indian High and the summer monsoon. The latter, along with winter cyclones, bring with them a small amount of precipitation, so the deserts on the western edge of Australia are replaced by semi-deserts. From December to February, the continent warms up greatly, especially its northern and northwestern parts; This is the hot season of the year. In the north of the Western Plateau and almost the entire northern half of the Central Lowland, the average air temperature is above 30°C. In the extreme south there is an isotherm of 20°C. Due to the strong heating of the land above it, low atmospheric pressure is established - the Australian minimum. Regions high pressure over the Indian and Pacific oceans at this time of year they move south and, connecting, capture the southern edge of the continent. From the northwest to the interior low pressure humid equatorial air is drawn in, releasing heavy precipitation only on the coast. The Arnhem Land and York peninsulas receive more than 1000 mm of rainfall per year. In the inland regions, these rains, although they determine the summer maximum precipitation north of the Cape line of the North-Western city of Sydney, are generally not very effective South of 19-20° S. w. precipitation falls no more than 300 mm, and semi-deserts and deserts dominate.

From the south, southeastern and southern winds are drawn into the low pressure area. But they come from higher latitudes (from an area of ​​high pressure) and do not produce precipitation. Therefore, the summer in southern Australia is very dry: in Perth (in the southwest), out of 850 mm of annual precipitation, only 32 mm falls in the summer, i.e., about 4% of the total. Passing over hot land, winds from the ocean quickly warm up; in the southern deserts of the Western Plateau and in the south of the Central Lowland it is hot weather(average temperature of the hottest month in Coolgardie is 25.3°C). The coastal strip is naturally somewhat cooler: in Perth, the average temperature of the hottest month is 23.3°C. A special weather regime is established at this time of year on east coast mainland. Winds from the Pacific Ocean (carrying equatorial air north of 19° S, tropical air to the south, but both are humid and warm), encountering a mountain barrier, produce abundant orographic rains. In Mackay, for example, out of 1910 mm of annual precipitation in December, February falls 820 mm (43%), in Sydney, out of 1230 mm of annual precipitation, 250 mm (20%). The weather is hot and humid. The average summer temperature in Sydney is 22°C, in Brisbane 25°C, in Mackay 28°C. During the cool season of the year (June-August), the mainland cools noticeably. On the northern coast, average monthly temperatures decrease by 5-6°C; in other parts of the mainland by 10-12°C. The 15°C isotherm passes this season slightly north of the southern tropic, and the 10°C isotherm runs along the Bass Strait, separating Tasmania from Australia. High pressure is established over the mainland, the Australian High. The northern coast is influenced by dry and hot southeasterly winds of the northern periphery of the Australian High and receives almost no precipitation. There is also no rain in the interior of the continent. Along the south coast and over Tasmania, westerly transport of temperate sea air dominates this season. In the zone of the polar front, which forms between temperate and tropical air, unstable weather occurs with cyclonic rains, therefore, south of 32° S. there is a winter maximum precipitation. In Perth in June-August 470 mm (55%) of 850 mm of annual precipitation falls. The only exception is the south-eastern edge of the mainland, where in winter relatively cold south-westerly winds blow along the eastern periphery of the Australian High. In this regard, even in Sydney in winter there is slightly less rainfall than in summer. From 32° south w. to the southern tropic along the eastern coast the winds blow south, and north of the tropic southeasterly winds blow.

Block B

Exercise 1

Solution: if we assume that the annual rate of natural population growth of Lithuania will remain during the specified period at the level of -0.4% (or minus 4 people for every thousand people), then the annual natural population decline will be: as of 01/01/2008 – 13,680 people (3,420,000x0.4/100), and the population will be 3,420,000 – 13,680 = 3,406,320 people; as of 01/01/2009 – 13,625 people. (3,406,320x0.4/100), and the population will be 3,406,320 – 13,625 = 3,392,695 people; as of January 1, 2010 – 13,571 people. (3,392,695x0.4/100), and the population will be 3,379,124 people. The total population, taking into account the negative balance of external migration, will decrease to 3,354,124 people.

Task 2

Solution. The area of ​​the lake is 79.62 km2. If you look at yourself (at the upper part of the body, which requires more space), then you will see that a platform of 50 x 40 cm is quite enough for you. This means that one person needs 0.5 x 0.4 = 0.2 m2, i.e. approximately 5 people can be accommodated on 1 m2, then approximately 5 million people can fit on 1 km2, and about 400 million people on the ice of the lake. About 2.8 million people live in Minsk, about 9.7 million in Belarus, about 300 million in the USA, and all of them can easily fit into the area of ​​Lake Naroch.

There are about 500 million people living in the European Union, about 1.3 billion in China, about 6.6 billion on the entire planet, and all of them will not fit on the area of ​​Lake Naroch.

Block G

Exercise 1

Point 1. Port Hunger

Puerto del Hambre - ruins spanish city XVII century. Patagonia. Chile. Today it is Santa Ana Bay.

This is a historical settlement founded on the shores of the Strait of Magellan in southern Chile, 58 km from Punta Arenas, Magallanes Region and Chilean Antarctica, Patagonia. The Spanish settlement was founded in March 1584 by Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa as the city of Rey Don Felipe. There were 300 settlers.

Three years later, the English navigator, pirate Thomas Cavendish, circumnavigating the world and simultaneously robbing and capturing Spanish ships, appeared in the Strait of Magellan. The city founded by the Spaniards lay in ruins, corpses everywhere and not a single living person. Named the Hungry Port dead scary English city. The world learned about the causes of the tragedy only in the second half of the last century - from the “Brief Report” compiled by Sarmiento back in 1589. It shows that the seeds brought by the colonists did not germinate and people somehow subsisted on fishing. And then the city was besieged by the Patagonians.

Clause 2. ChIlyan

Chillan (Spanish) Chillán) is a city in Chile. The administrative center of the commune and province of the same name. Population - 146,701 people (2002). The city and municipality is part of the province of Newbley and the region of Bio-Bio.

The territory of the commune is 511.2 km². Population - 172,225 inhabitants (2007). Population density is 336.9 people/km².

Point 3. Southern Andes

In the Southern Andes, extending south of 28° S, two parts are distinguished - northern (Chilean-Argentine or Subtropical Andes) and southern (Patagonian Andes). In the Chilean-Argentine Andes, narrowing to the south and reaching 39°41 S, a three-member structure is clearly expressed - the Coastal Cordillera, the Longitudinal Valley and the Main Cordillera; within the latter, in the Cordillera Frontal, there is the highest peak of the Andes, Mount Aconcagua (6960 m), as well as the large peaks of Tupungato (6800 m), Mercedario (6770 m). The snow line here is very high (at 32°40 S - 6000 m). To the east of the Cordillera Frontal are the ancient Precordilleras.

South of 33° S. (and up to 52° S) is the third volcanic region of the Andes, where there are many active (mainly in the Main Cordillera and to the west of it) and extinct volcanoes (Tupungato, Maipa, Llymo, etc.)

When moving south, the snow line gradually decreases and at 51° S. reaches 1460 m. High ridges acquire features of the Alpine type, the area of ​​modern glaciation increases, and numerous glacial lakes appear. South of 40° S. The Patagonian Andes begin with lower ridges than in the Chilean-Argentine Andes (the highest point is Mount San Valentin - 4058 m) and active volcanism in the north. About 52° S the strongly dissected Coastal Cordillera plunges into the ocean, and its peaks form a chain of rocky islands and archipelagos; The longitudinal valley turns into a system of straits reaching the western part of the Strait of Magellan. In the area of ​​the Strait of Magellan, the Andes (here called Andes Tierra del Fuego) deviate sharply to the east. In the Patagonian Andes, the height of the snow line barely exceeds 1500 m (in the extreme south it is 300-700 m, and from 46°30 S latitude glaciers descend to ocean level), glacial landforms predominate (at 48° S latitude - powerful Patagonian ice sheet) with an area of ​​over 20 thousand km², from where many kilometers of glacial tongues descend to the west and east); some of the valley glaciers on the eastern slopes end in large lakes. Along the coasts, heavily indented by fjords, young volcanic cones (Corcovado and others) rise. The Andes of Tierra del Fuego are relatively low (up to 2469 m).

In the Chilean-Argentine Andes the climate is subtropical, and the wetting of the western slopes - due to winter cyclones - is greater than in subequatorial belt; When moving south, annual precipitation amounts on the western slopes increase rapidly. Summer is dry, winter is wet. As you move away from the ocean, the climate becomes more continental and seasonal temperature fluctuations increase. In the city of Santiago, located in the Longitudinal Valley, the average temperature of the warmest month is 20 °C, the coldest month is 7-8 °C; There is little precipitation in Santiago, 350 mm per year (to the south, in Valdivia, there is more precipitation - 750 mm per year). On the western slopes of the Main Cordillera there is more precipitation than in the Longitudinal Valley (but less than on the Pacific coast).

When moving south, the subtropical climate of the western slopes smoothly transforms into the oceanic climate of temperate latitudes: annual precipitation amounts increase, and differences in moisture between seasons decrease. Strong westerly winds bring large amounts of precipitation to the coast (up to 6000 mm per year, although usually 2000-3000 mm). It rains heavily for more than 200 days a year, thick fog often falls on the coast, and the sea is constantly stormy; the climate is unfavorable for living. The eastern slopes (between 28° and 38° S) are drier than the western ones (and only in the temperate zone, south of 37° S, due to the influence of westerly winds, their moisture increases, although they remain less humid compared to Western ones). The average temperature of the warmest month on the western slopes is only 10-15 °C (the coldest month is 3-7 °C)

In the extreme southern part of the Andes, on Tierra del Fuego, there is a very humid climate, which is formed by strong, humid westerly and southwesterly winds; Precipitation (up to 3000 mm) falls mainly in the form of drizzle (which occurs most days of the year). Only in the easternmost part of the archipelago is there much less precipitation. Temperatures are low throughout the year (with very little temperature variation between seasons).

In central Chile the forests have been largely cleared; Once upon a time, forests rose along the Main Cordillera to altitudes of 2500-3000 m (higher up were mountain meadows with alpine grasses and shrubs, as well as rare peat bogs), but now the mountain slopes are practically bare. Nowadays forests are found only in the form of separate groves (pines, araucarias, eucalyptus, beech and plane trees, and gorse in the undergrowth).

On the slopes of the Patagonian Andes south of 38° S. - subarctic multi-tiered forests of tall trees and shrubs, mostly evergreen, on brown forest (podzolized to the south) soils; there are a lot of mosses, lichens and lianas in the forests; south of 42° S - mixed forests(in the region of 42° S there is an array of araucaria forests). Rastubuki, magnolias, tree ferns, tall conifers, bamboos. On the eastern slopes of the Patagonian Andes there are mainly beech forests. In the extreme south of the Patagonian Andes there is tundra vegetation.

Point 4. Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa is a city in the Argentine Pampa, the capital of the province of Pampa. Located in the east of the province, on the shores of Lake Don Tomas. Population 103 thousand people

Point 5. Patagonia

Patagonia is a part of South America located south of the Colorado rivers (according to another version - Rio Negro and Limay) in Argentina and Bio-bio Chile, although absolutely precise definition does not exist. Sometimes Tierra del Fuego is also included in Patagonia.

Patagonia is very sparsely populated, with an average population density of approximately 2 inhabitants per km². The natural profile of Patagonia is steppe plains, the so-called pampas. The Chilean part of Patagonia is characterized by a humid, cool climate. The Argentine part is very dry, since most of the precipitation coming from the west is stopped by the Andes. Constant strong winds are typical. Representatives of the Patagonian fauna are guanacos and nanduicondors. Numerous lakes of Patagonia are the birthplace of flamingos and other aquatic birds. The vegetation is poor.

Tourism has become the main source of income in Patagonia, at least in the Chilean part. Important tourist sites include the Chilean National Park Torres del Paine, as well as the Los Glaciares National Park on the Argentine side. The latter was included in the UNESCO Natural Heritage List in 1981 and often attracts attention with the spectacular break-ups of the Perito Moreno glaciers. IN national park“Torres del Paine” had more than 80 thousand visitors in 2003. Peak attendance occurs between November and February, when it is summer in the southern hemisphere. Los Glaciares has even more visitors, although many of them are locals.

Another important source of income on the Argentine side is sheep farming. Between 1930 and 1970, the sale of wool was very profitable, but eventually the price fell and many local peasants (gauchos) were forced to abandon their farms. However, since then, many wealthy entrepreneurs have bought up and renovated farms, and the price of wool has risen eightfold.

Point 6.Melbourne

Melbourne (English) Melbourne) is the second largest city in Australia, the capital of the state of Victoria, located around Port Phillip Bay. The metropolitan area's population is approximately 3.8 million (2007 estimates).

The city is considered one of the main commercial, industrial and cultural centers of Australia. Melbourne is also often called "sports and cultural capital" country, as it hosts many sporting and cultural events in Australian life. The city is famous for its combination of Victorian and modern architecture, numerous parks and gardens, and a diverse and multinational population. Melbourne hosted the Summer Olympics in 1956 and the Commonwealth Games in 2006. Here, in 1981, a meeting of the heads of state of the British Commonwealth of Nations took place, and in 2006, the G20 summit, which was attended by the leaders of the nineteen most developed countries.

Melbourne was founded by free settlers in 1835 as an agricultural settlement on the banks of the Yarra River (this happened 47 years after the first European settlement in Australia). Thanks to the Victorian gold rush, the city quickly became a metropolis and by 1865 became the largest and most important city in Australia. But already at the beginning of the 20th century it lost the palm to Sydney.

Between 1901, when the Federation of Australia was formed, and 1927, when Canberra became the capital of the state, Australian government offices were located in Melbourne.

Item 7. Australian Alps

Australian Alps - highest mountain system in Australia. Highlands. One of the parts of the Great Dividing Range. The highest point - Kosciuszko, 2230 m, is also the highest point of the entire continent of Australia. Australia's longest river, the Murray, originates on the northwestern slope. The length is about 400 km.

Point 8. New Zealand(Northern Island)

North Island is one of New Zealand's two main islands.

The island is home to the country's main cities, including the largest in New Zealand - Auckland and the country's capital - Wellington. Approximately 76% of New Zealand's population lives on the North Island.

The island's area is 113.729 km², the 2nd largest (after South Island) in New Zealand and 14th in the world.

The North Island is significantly less mountainous than the South Island. Its highest point is the active volcano Ruapehu (2797 m). However, the North Island has high volcanic activity, resulting in five of the country's six volcanic zones being located here.

In the very center of the North Island is New Zealand's largest lake, Lake Taupo. The longest river in New Zealand, the Waikato, flows from here, its length is 425 km.

The average annual temperature is +16 °C.

In the west of the island is the Egmont National Park.

Point 9. Tabor Island (Maria Teresa Reef)

Maria Teresa (English) Maria Theresa Reef, fr. l"île Tabor) is a reef supposedly located east of New Zealand and south of the Tuamotu archipelago, “discovered” by whaler Asaph P. Taber in 1843 and named after his American hometown of Maria Teresa. According to another version, the name was given in honor of the ship.

Geographic coordinates were determined as 37°00′ S. w. 151°13′ W d. For a long time(until the 60s-1970s of the XX century) the reef was depicted on maps. On French maps the reef was called Tabor Island (from the mistakenly read name of the discoverer Taber).

Maria Theresa Reef is one of many non-existent reefs in the South Pacific that were depicted on maps until the second half of the 20th century (others include Jupiter, Wauchisett, Ernest Legouwe, and Rangitiki Reefs).

The reef became famous due to J. Verne’s novels “The Children of Captain Grant” and “The Mysterious Island”. Contrary to popular belief, Maria Teresa Reef is not a figment of the writer’s imagination, unlike Lincoln Island; Jules Verne sincerely, like his contemporaries, believed that the island existed.

The last time the island was searched for in the indicated location was in 1957, but neither land nor traces of the recent sinking of the earth to the bottom were found: the ocean in the immediate vicinity of these coordinates is very deep. In 1983, the coordinates of the island were determined to be 36°50′ S. w. 136°39′W etc., which is more than a thousand kilometers east of the previously known place. However, this time the search was unsuccessful.

Task 2.

Australia in winter

Since Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, the order of the seasons is mirrored from the order in the Northern Hemisphere. This means that when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in Australia.

Thus, winter in Australia occurs approximately from April to September. Typically, the Australian winter is characterized by a warm and dry climate, in contrast to the summer, which is characterized by rainy season and heat. However, in general, temperature differences in Australia are very small compared, for example, with the European part of Russia.

Features of Winter in Australia

IN winter season During the year the continent cools: in the northern part by an average of 5-6°C; in the south by 10-12°C. An area of ​​high pressure is established over the continent. The northern coast is influenced by hot and dry southeastern winds and receives virtually no precipitation. There is no rain in the interior parts of the mainland either.

Along the south coast and over Tasmania, the wind is from the west during this season. Unstable weather with cyclonic rains occurs here, so the winter maximum precipitation is observed south of 32° south latitude. The only exception is the southeastern edge of the mainland, where relatively cold southwesterly winds blow in winter. In connection with this, in winter here, as well as in the northern part of the mainland, there is less rainfall than in summer.

Winter in different parts of Australia

The size of the country determines a wide climatic diversity: from deserts to coasts, from tropical forests before snowy mountains. Therefore there are differences in climatic conditions northern and southern parts of the country.

The northern part of Australia - approximately 40% of the country - is located in the tropical climatic zone. In fact, there are only two seasons here - summer and winter. South part located in the area temperate climate, all four seasons are expressed here:
spring (September - November); summer (December - February); autumn (March - May); winter (June - August).

In the north and north-west of Australia winter period, from May to October, the most favorable weather occurs. It's hot here during the day and cool at night. The air becomes dry, the sky is blue all the time. The ocean water in this part of Australia is practically all year round reminds new milk. In the cities of Perth and Darwin the average temperature in winter is +18°C.

On the east coast of Australia the climate is more similar to southern Europe. It's cool here in winter. The average temperature in Brisbane is 18°C, in Melbourne 15°C. Even night frosts occur here. The water in the ocean does not warm up well, its average temperature in winter is about 11°C.

The most favorable weather in winter is in South-Eastern Australia. In Sydney, winter is reminiscent of winter in the Mediterranean resorts of France and Spain. On a typical winter day, the air temperature here is 16-22°C, prevailing sunny days, there is little precipitation. The water temperature in the ocean in winter is 18°C.

In a special climate zone Australia stand out mountainous areas where the weather is subject to fluctuations. Thus, in the capital of Australia, Canberra, the climate is moderate with all the features inherent in mountainous regions. Winter here is cold and snowy. The weather, as elsewhere in the mountains, changes quickly and unpredictably. Throughout the year, large amplitudes of fluctuations in daytime temperature are observed: it can be hot during the day and cold at night, and snow can even fall in the heat.

A special climate also exists in the interior of Australia. It is considered the driest place in the entire Southern Hemisphere. It is hot and dry here even in winter. Sea air, which sometimes penetrates far into the continent, quickly warms up and loses moisture.

High-speed Italian trains in Italy will help you get there quickly and cheaply.

This summer we went to Melbourne on holiday with my husband. The weather was pleasant, we arrived for two weeks. We were lucky. The sea was warm, the sand was hot, and the beach was filled with tourists. The sea water temperature reached 39 degrees. Sometimes it was even very hot. But there are well-appointed places where you can cool off. For example, a pool bar. A cool cocktail or warm tea with lemon, which relieves thirst like no other. Since the air temperature reached 42, sometimes it was impossible to visit the beach, only in the morning, but the pool is welcome. It’s good if it’s under a roof, then you can spend the whole day in the water. The pool is refreshed frequently cold water and the shower is always free.

I would like to start by saying that Australia is a beautiful country with simply amazing fauna and flora. And so that it could develop there, the weather on this continent is completely different. For example, in Sydney, where I was quite warm all the time, there was never any rain for 2 weeks, moderate humidity and a fairly strong wind are perfect for surfing)) On average, the temperature stays at 25 degrees and rarely reaches more than 30, which is also pleasant.

I went to Alelaida for work two years ago in February, I thought that it wouldn’t be very hot there and I wouldn’t be able to go to the sea and relax, but already on the plane I remembered that everything was the other way around and I ended up in this city at the height of summer and holiday season. I didn’t expect such heat at noon, almost +40, you can only go outside in the morning when the sun is still relatively low and all this is in the background complete absence precipitation, it’s good that at least the sea breeze somehow cooled it.