Tasmania

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tasmania is a large island off the southern coast of mainland Australia. It is a state of Australia. Its capital and the largest city is Hobart. The island was joined to the mainland until the end of the most recent ice age approximately 10 000 years ago.

It is the home of rare animals like thylacines (now believed to be extinct) and tasmanian devils.

Contents 1 History 2 Cities and towns 3 Population 4 Places to visit 5 Famous Tasmanians

[change] History

Tasmania is a state of Australia. Unlike the other states it is an island. The Bass Strait separates it from the Australian mainland. The first people to come to Tasmania were the Australian aboriginals. Aboriginals are the native people of Tasmania and have lived there for a very long time. Abel Janszoon Tasman was the first European to discover the island in 1642. He called it Van Diemen's Land. It was later called Tasmania. Much later people came from Europe, mostly from the British Empire to live on the island.

[change] Cities and towns

Tasmania has many cities and towns including Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie. ((Port Auther, Tasmania/Port Auther))

[change] Population

Tasmania is the smallest state in Australia because it has such small land area. It also has the smallest population. The total population of Tasmania is just over 500, 000 (May 2008).

[change] Places to visit

Tasmania has some of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. They range from old country towns to up to date cities. Some popular tourist places are:

• Port Arthur
• Huonville
• Richmond
• Coles Bay
• Hagley

[change] Famous Tasmanians

• Errol Flynn - actor, best known for his role in the 1930's as Robin Hood.
• Ricky Ponting - Current Australian Cricket Captain
• Peter Crumpton - Prolific Filmmaker based in Sydney
• Tasmanian Devil - cartoon character and a real species of marsupial it is based on.
• Princess Mary Donaldson of Denmark

States and territories of Australia
States
New South Wales • Queensland • South Australia • Tasmania • Victoria • Western Australia
Territories
Mainland: Australian Capital Territory • Jervis Bay Territory • Northern Territory
Overseas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands • Australian Antarctic Territory • Norfolk Island • Christmas Island • Cocos (Keeling) Islands • Coral Sea Islands • Heard and McDonald Islands