Australia comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the west and south, and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The country's geography is famously diverse, encompassing tropical rainforests in the northeast, rugged mountain ranges in the southeast, and vast, arid deserts spanning the interior.
Geologically, Australia is the oldest and most stable landmass on Earth, situated entirely within the Indo-Australian Plate, which means it experiences relatively little major volcanic or tectonic activity. The country is exceptionally rich in natural resources, holding some of the world's largest reserves of iron ore, coal, gold, lithium, and uranium.
The coastline stretches for nearly 36,000 kilometers, framed by iconic natural features such as the Great Barrier Reef—the world's largest coral reef system—along the northeastern coast. Inland, the landscape transitions into savannahs, scrublands, and the vast central deserts, collectively known as the Outback, which dominate the majority of the continent's landmass.