Лекция: Text for written translation

While Australia is one of the most sparsely populated countries of the world, two of its cities Sydney and Melbourne, runk among the fourty largest in the world. The density of population, though rising, is still only five persons per square mile; only Canada has a comparably low figure. About 58% of the population lives in the six state capitals – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobard. Apart from this cities and the federal capital of Canberra there are less than two dozen cities with a population of more than 20,000. Country towns are usually small, with populations between 5,000 and 10,000. Some have small secondary industries, but most exist merely as centres to serve the surrounding districts. Canberra, the capital city of Australia is situated in the south-east of the continent. When the federal government was created, Melbourne and Sydney viewed for the honour of becoming the capital of a new nation. Neither city wanted the other to become the permanent capital. So a new capital city was built at Canberra, halfway between Melbourne and Sydney. Canberra is situated on the Molonglo River, a tributary of the Marumbidgee River. The plains surrounding Canberra are used chiefly for sheep raising, wheat and corn growing, dairying, fruit growing. Canberra as a capital of the country, is the seat of Parliament and the other branches of government. Some 30 embassies, legations, and offices of high commissioners give the city an international flavour. The broad avenues and residential streets are lined with trees, and Canberra is often called the Garden City of Australia.