Tasmania is an island state of Australia. It is located 240 km to the south of the Australian mainland, separated by Bass Strait. The state has a population of around 526,700 as of March 2020, and covers an area of 68,401 km2. Tasmania’s capital city is Hobart, and the largest city is Launceston.
The island was originally inhabited by Aboriginal Australians and was part of the Australian mainland until around 10,000 years ago when rising sea levels cut off Tasmania from the mainland. It was then settled by Europeans in 1803 as a penal colony. The majority of convicts were sent here from Britain and Ireland. Free settlers began to arrive in the 1830s. Since Federation in 1901, Tasmania has been a state of Australia.
Tasmania’s natural attractions include mountains, rivers, beaches and forests. Among these are Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park which features glaciers, alpine heaths and rainforests; Freycinet National Park with its white sand beaches; Mount Field National Park with its temperate rainforest; Tasman Island National Park; Walls of Jerusalem National Park; Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park; North East Bay Marine Reserve; Macquarie Island Nature Reserve; South West Wilderness Area World Heritage Site; Port Arthur Historic Site which includes one of Australia’s best-preserved convict sites from the 19th century penal colonies era now open for tourism.; Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park containing some of Victoria’s most pristine coastline scenery.; King Island off north-west Tasmania has unique landscapes including Cape Wickham Lighthouse – tallest operational lighthouse in Australasia at 61 metres (200 ft), standing on cliffs 162 metres (531 ft) above sea level – visible from 50 kilometres (31 miles) out to sea.; Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island contains spectacular coastlines & important wildlife habitats including Remarkable Rocks – huge sculptured rock formations created over millionsof years by wind erosion & wave action.; PurnululuNational Parkin Western Australia’s remote Kimberley region is home tothe Bungle Bungle Range – remarkable beehive-shaped sandstone formations that have been eroded over timeby wind & water.; Uluru–Kata TjutaNational Parkis sacred to Aboriginal people & featuresUluru(Ayers Rock), a massive sandstone monolithwith numerous caves & crevices that are home to rare plants& animals.; KakaduNationalParkin Northern Territory protects onefifthofAustralia’s landmass& contains more speciesofbird than any other parkin Australia., as well as freshwater crocodiles& saltwater crocodiles.; LitchfieldNationalParkin Northern Territory boasts stunning waterfallsamidst rocky escarpments& tropical Savannah woodlands., along with magnetic termite moundsthat can be up to six metres high.; NitmilukNationalParkis located in Katherine Gorge inthe Top EndofAustralia’s Northern Territoryandis home towetlandplants & animals., freshwaterestuaries& dry forest., as well as Aboriginal art galleries showcasing local artists’ work.”