TASMANIATASMANIA

TasmaniaTasmania TasmaniaTasmania is an is an

AustralianAustralian island island and and statestate

The state includes The state includes the island of the island of Tasmania – the Tasmania – the 26th 26th largestlargest islandisland inin thethe worldworld – and – and the the surroundingsurrounding islandsislands. .

GeographyGeography The island is surrounded by the The island is surrounded by the

Indian and Pacific Oceans and Indian and Pacific Oceans and separated from mainland Australia separated from mainland Australia by by BassBass StraitStrait

As the island has been volcanically As the island has been volcanically inactive in recent geological times, inactive in recent geological times, Tasmania has many rounded smooth Tasmania has many rounded smooth mountain ranges, making it the most mountain ranges, making it the most mountainous state in Australia mountainous state in Australia

GeographyGeography Much of Tasmania Much of Tasmania

is still densely is still densely forested, with the forested, with the SouthwestSouthwest NationalNational ParkPark and and neighbouring areas neighbouring areas holding some of holding some of the last temperate the last temperate rain forests in the rain forests in the SouthernSouthern HemisphereHemisphere

RiversRivers Tasmania has a great number of Tasmania has a great number of

rivers, with almost all dammed at rivers, with almost all dammed at some point to provide enough some point to provide enough hydroelectricity for the entire state's hydroelectricity for the entire state's needs. needs.

Flora Flora Tasmania has Tasmania has

extremelyextremely diversediverse vegetation, from the vegetation, from the heavily grazed heavily grazed grassland of the dry grassland of the dry Midlands to the tall Midlands to the tall evergreen evergreen eucalypteucalypt forest, forest, alpinealpine heathlands and large heathlands and large areas of cool areas of cool temperatetemperate rainforestsrainforests and moorlands in the and moorlands in the rest of the state. rest of the state.

FloraFlora Tasmania is also Tasmania is also

home to some of home to some of the tallest and the tallest and oldest trees of the oldest trees of the world. While world. While individual individual HuonHuon pinespines are believed are believed to be more than to be more than 2,000 years old 2,000 years old

Fauna Fauna Tasmanian TigerTasmanian Tiger The island of Tasmania The island of Tasmania

was home to the was home to the ThylacineThylacine, a , a marsupialmarsupial which which resembled a wild dog. resembled a wild dog. Known colloquially as the Known colloquially as the Tasmanian Tiger for the Tasmanian Tiger for the distinctive striping across distinctive striping across its back, it became extinct its back, it became extinct in mainland Australia much in mainland Australia much earlier because of earlier because of competition by the competition by the dingodingo, , introduced in prehistoric introduced in prehistoric times times

Physical historyPhysical history It is believed that the It is believed that the

island was joined to island was joined to the mainland of the mainland of AustraliaAustralia until the end until the end of the of the lastlast glacialglacial periodperiod approximately approximately 10,000 years ago. 10,000 years ago.

Tasmania has the Tasmania has the world's largest areas world's largest areas of dolerite, with many of dolerite, with many distinctive mountains distinctive mountains and cliffs formed from and cliffs formed from this rock type this rock type

Tasmania is promoted as the Tasmania is promoted as the natural statenatural state and the "island of and the "island of

inspiration" owing to its large and inspiration" owing to its large and relatively unspoiled natural relatively unspoiled natural

environment. Almost 37% of environment. Almost 37% of Tasmania lies in reserves, Tasmania lies in reserves,

nationalnational parksparks and and WorldWorld HeritageHeritage SitesSites

Indigenous people Indigenous people Tasmania was first Tasmania was first

inhabited by the inhabited by the Tasmanian Aborigines. Tasmanian Aborigines. Evidence indicates Evidence indicates their presence in the their presence in the region, later to region, later to become an island, at become an island, at at least 35000 years at least 35000 years ago.ago.[12][12] Rising sea Rising sea levels cut Tasmania levels cut Tasmania off from mainland off from mainland Australia about 10,000 Australia about 10,000 years ago. years ago.

Government Government Tasmania has been a state of the Tasmania has been a state of the

Commonwealth of Australia, and the Commonwealth of Australia, and the AustralianAustralian ConstitutionConstitution regulates its regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth relationship with the Commonwealth and prescribes which powers each and prescribes which powers each level of government enjoys. level of government enjoys.

Culture Culture CuisineCuisine Tasmania now has a wide range of Tasmania now has a wide range of

restaurants. Scattered across restaurants. Scattered across Tasmania are many vineyards Tasmania are many vineyards

Events Events In order to foster tourism, the state In order to foster tourism, the state

government encourages or supports government encourages or supports several different annual events in and several different annual events in and around the island. The best known of around the island. The best known of these would be the Sydney to Hobart these would be the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, starting on Boxing Day in Yacht Race, starting on Boxing Day in Sydney and usually arriving at Constitution Sydney and usually arriving at Constitution Dock in Hobart around three to four days Dock in Hobart around three to four days later, during the Taste of Tasmania, an later, during the Taste of Tasmania, an annual food and wine festival. annual food and wine festival.

EventEvent Other events include the road rally Other events include the road rally

Targa Tasmania which attracts world-Targa Tasmania which attracts world-class rally drivers and is staged all class rally drivers and is staged all over the state, over five days over the state, over five days