Australia
Sydney
Welcome to Australia! Sydney grew up around one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world, where a giant steel bridge and a sail-shaped opera house now greet every ship that sails in. Just beyond downtown, world-famous beaches like Bondi welcome swimmers and surfers all year round.
Why is it famous?
The Sydney Opera House, with its white roof shaped like ship sails or seashells, is one of the most recognizable buildings on Earth and a busy home for concerts and shows.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge, nicknamed 'the Coathanger' because of its curved shape, lets cars, trains, cyclists, and even brave climbers cross the harbor high above the water.
A city built around a harbor
Sydney began over 230 years ago as a small settlement beside a deep, sheltered harbor that sailors quickly recognized as one of the finest in the world.
As the city grew, its streets and neighborhoods wound around countless coves and inlets instead of following a simple grid, giving Sydney its curvy, harbor-hugging shape.
Amazing facts
The Sydney Opera House's curved white roof is covered in over one million tiny ceramic tiles that shimmer in the sunlight.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is sometimes called the 'Iron Lung' because so many workers found jobs building it during a tough economic time in the 1930s.
Quick facts
- The Sydney Opera House's curved white roof is covered in over one million tiny ceramic tiles that shimmer in the sunlight.
- The Sydney Harbour Bridge is sometimes called the 'Iron Lung' because so many workers found jobs building it during a tough economic time in the 1930s.
- The Royal Botanic Garden sits right next to the harbor and grows plants from all over Australia and the world, including towering fig trees over 100 years old.
- Sydney's Circular Quay is one of the busiest ferry hubs in the world, with boats zipping across the harbor to beaches and neighborhoods all day long.