Tasmania

The main island of Tasmania is the 26th largest island in the world. It lies 240 kilometres away from the southern coast of mainland Australia, from which it is separated by the Bass Strait. Tasmania is also surrounded by the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The position of the island, at 42 degrees South and 147 degrees East, places it in the path of the strong wind that encircles the globe, which is known as the Roaring Forties. The island of Tasmania has an area of 62,409 kilometres square and it measures approximately 364 by 306 kilometres in size. Together with the smaller surrounding islands, the state of Tasmania has a land area of 68,401 square kilometres. The islands that make up the state include the subantarctic Macquarie Island.

Tasmania is the most mountainous state in Australia, with the most mountainous part of the island being the Central Highlands. The tallest mountain is the 1617 metre high Mount Ossa, which lies within the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park. The Midlands region is one of the flattest parts of the state and it is, therefore, an important agricultural area. Tasmania has a large number of rivers, due to its rugged and mountainous topography, most of which have their sources in the Central Highlands. Major rivers include the Tamar, Derwent, Mersey and South Esk. Most of the rivers have been dammed at some point, so that the state is able to produce all of its power from hydroelectricity. Large parts of Tasmania are covered with forest. The state has some of the last remaining temperature rain forest in the Southern Hemisphere, notably the Tarkine and in the Southwest National Park.

Tasmania has a population of about 500,000, which is mostly concentrated in the Greater Hobart area. Hobart is the state capital and the largest city. Other large centres of population are Burnie, Devonport and Launceton. Tasmania is the only Australian state which currently has a Total Fertility Rate that is at an above-replacement level, with women in Tasmania having an average of 2.24 children each.