Countries

Australia

Federated in 1901 from six British colonies, Australia built Canberra from scratch as a compromise capital after rival Sydney and Melbourne couldn't agree who should lead the new Commonwealth. It's home to the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef system on Earth.

Aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef, showing coral formations in turquoise water off the Queensland coast

The Great Barrier Reef

Photo: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Union Jack marks colonial history; the Commonwealth Star's seven points stand for the six states plus the territories; the Southern Cross orients the flag to the southern hemisphere sky.

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