Australia, or the Commonwealth of Australia, is the world's sixth-largest country by land area, comprising the mainland continent, Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It boasts spectacular, diverse landscapes, from its ancient deserts and forests to the Great Barrier Reef, and is a multicultural nation with a high standard of living. As a stable, democratic federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a highly skilled workforce, Australia is known for its rich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, modern multicultural society, and laid-back lifestyle.