Over one third of Tasmania today is made up of national parks and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, which is home to some of the world’s rarest plants and animals. The southeastern state of Australia is an island filled with rugged beauty and charming people. Life on the island is laid-back and the citizens work hard to keep it that way.
Geography
Tasmania is an island roughly 68,300 square kilometers in size, located off the south eastern coast of Australia. The island is roughly the size of Virginia or Scotland. Many thousands of years ago, there was a land bridge between Australia and Tasmania, but that has long since been submerged, and the island is now located 240 km from the mainland across the Bass Strait.
Despite its relatively small size, Tasmania has a varied geography. The northern side of the island has green rolling hills reminiscent of England’s countryside. The Tamar River winds through rainforests with towering trees and down cascading waterfalls. As the river approaches the sea, the landscape flattens out to showcase beautiful beaches and bays.
The southern half of the island is almost entirely comprised of national parks and rugged wilderness. Hidden caverns and other awe inspiring scenery make Southern and Southeastern Tasmania a popular location for serious outdoorsmen.
Population
At the latest census, Tasmania boasted a population of more than 477,000 inhabitants. The average age of Tasmania’s citizens is 34 and the vast majority of inhabitants speak English at home. Slightly more than 15,000 residents of aboriginal heritage still live in the state, but the last full blooded aboriginal resident died in 1876.
Tasmania history shows that political parties have had more similar goals than differences over time. Promoting the island state and making use of its natural treasures have been the focus of politics for years. Now, with industry declining and tourism to the wilderness areas increasing, politics have taken a slightly different turn in trying to maximize rewards from this transition.
The main political parties in the state are the Australian Labor (Labour) Party and the Australian Liberal Party. The Greens, make up a conservation party. The Greens have their roots in one of the earliest natural conservation political parties in the world.
Climate
The climate in Tasmania is ideal. The average summertime temperature is 21°C (70°F) and the winter brings the average temperature down to 12°C (52° F). Rainfall on the state varies by location with rainforests in the North and West and dryer climates in the South. The capital Hobart receives only 24 inches of rain a year compared to the 95 inches that fall toward the western coast. Tasmania also boasts the most distinct seasons of any of the Australian states.
