Report about the island of Tasmania. The island of Tasmania is a mysterious and picturesque corner of the planet

Today, having sufficient funds, any avid traveler, or simply an inquisitive tourist, can go on vacation in any direction: to any part of the world, to any continent, to any country. And while some choose, for example, travel to exotic Thailand, virgin Vietnam, bright Greece or sunny Turkey, others, having carefully studied the world map, head to less popular, but no less wonderful places on our planet. One of these places can safely be considered Australian island of Tasmania, to which, due to its uniqueness, we decided to devote a separate article, despite the fact that in one of our previous materials we told you about Australia.

Brief information

Tasmania is an Australian state located on the island of the same name, 240 km to the south from the mainland of Australia and separated from it by the Bass Strait. The area occupied by Tasmania is 68,401 km², and the population living on it is just over 495 thousand people. The capital of Tasmania is Hobart. In addition, the island is divided into five regions: the capital and surrounding areas; Western Territories; North West Coast; Tamar, Launceston and northern; East Coast.

Where is Tasmania on the world map? You can see where the island of Tasmania is located on the world map below:

Climate of Tasmania- the golden mean for those who do not like to freeze and cannot stand the heat. The difference between the warmest and coldest temperatures is a maximum of 10°C. Warm winter, cool summer. Average temperature in summer: 17-18°C (in the highlands 7-8°C); in winter - 8-10°C (there are frosts in the highlands). Such climatic conditions allow you to relax and live in Tasmania all year round and feel very comfortable.

A little about the history of the island

Tasmania was originally inhabited by Tasmanians (Tasmanian Aborigines), as evidenced by numerous finds dating back more than 30 thousand years. By the time the first Europeans arrived in Tasmania, Tasmanians were divided into nine ethnic groups and their number by the time of the first settlers from Great Britain (1803) was from 5 to 10 thousand people. But by 1833, due to infectious diseases brought by Europeans, as well as war and persecution, the number of the indigenous population had dropped to 300 people, and in 1876 the last native of the island died.

As for Europeans in Tasmania, the first among them was the Dutchman Abel Tasman, landed on November 24, 1642 at Blackman Bay. It was he who gave Tasmania its first name - Van Diemen's Land(in honor of the man who sent him on the expedition). A huge number of other Europeans visited the island after him, and in 1798-1799. Matthew Flinders and George Bass proved that Tasmania is an island. The island and the strait are named after them, respectively.

In 1803, the first British settlement was founded in Tasmania near the mouth of the Derwent River, called Risdon Cove. In 1804, another similar settlement was founded a little to the south - Sullivans Cove. Today, Sullivans Cove is the capital of Hobart, and the settlement of Risdon Cove is abandoned. It is also worth noting that the first settlers in Tasmania were mainly convict laborers and their guards who came to develop agriculture and industry. In the period from 1803 to 1853. About 75 thousand prisoners were transported to the island! And the official name from Van Diemen's Land was changed to Tasmania in 1856. This year marks the beginning of the British colony of Tasmania, which existed until 1901, after which it became part of the Commonwealth of Australia along with other Australian colonies and was declared an Australian state.

Today Tasmania is an island with a well-developed infrastructure, all the necessary conditions for a modern and comfortable life and fantastically beautiful nature.

Natural attractions of Tasmania

Tasmanian nature is unique in itself and is the main attraction of the island. National parks occupy more than 40% of the entire territory, many beautiful lagoons, bays, coasts, nature reserves, canyons and other unforgettable places. And the fauna of the island amazes with its diversity and splendor. One gets the impression that you have traveled in a time machine to a time when nature was pristine and the planet was not desecrated by the harmful activities of man.

So, the main attractions of the island of Tasmania include (let's look briefly at):

Freycinet National Park

It is located 125 km from the capital on the Freycinet Peninsula. The oldest national park on the island. It features a coastline and bay with some of the best beaches in the world. Beautiful landscape, azure water, warm sand, many amazing animals and birds. For tourists there is the possibility of diving and snorkeling, as well as camping and booking sightseeing tours.

Ben Lomond National Park

Located in the north-eastern part of the island, 50 km from the city of Lanseston. This park is a huge plateau on the rocks. Here is the second highest point of the island - Ledgers Tor Peak (1572 meters above sea level). In addition to the richest flora and fauna, this park is famous for the fact that the main ski resort of the island is located here, created taking into account the most modern technologies.

Southwest National Park

This park is the largest in Tasmania - it covers an area of ​​618 thousand hectares. Located 93 km west of Hobart. It is best known for its pristine nature, extremely changeable weather, lack of people, inaccessible areas with hiking routes for almost two weeks, stunning views and lakes.

Naravntapu National Park

One of the most tranquil places on the planet, full of plains, moorland and low-lying marshes. The park is located near the city of Port Sorell between Bakers Beach and Greens Beach. It attracts tourists and local residents with a variety of landscapes, eucalyptus forests, a variety of animals and birds, clean beaches, water activities and local wine produced in the Tamar Valley.

Other interesting places

Of course, the Tasmanian parks discussed above are not the only ones and serve only as an example of what the island can boast of. In addition to them, one can note:

Among other things, Tasmania, with all its features, offers its guests not only the opportunity to contemplate fantastic beauties, which have no equal almost anywhere in the world, and not only many options for wonderful active recreation, but also has all its nature to engage in spiritual practices. It is for this reason that many people come here to practice meditation, reading mantras, and esotourism , channeled , ho'oponopono or anything else.

Try to find the time and opportunity to visit the amazing island of Tasmania and enjoy all its beauties. This trip will be one of the best of your life!

South of mainland Australia is the island of Tasmania. This is a separate Australian state, distinguished by its picturesque nature, mild climate and unique flora and fauna. This is an ideal place for tourists: here you can engage in mountain and water tourism, relax in comfortable hotels and enjoy the views of nature in nature reserves. Many natural, cultural and historical attractions make the island of Tasmania very popular.

History of the island

This place was discovered in 1642 by the Dutch traveler A. Tasman. He initially considered the island to be part of the Australian mainland and named it Van Diemen's Land. But it was only in the 19th century, when Europeans began to settle on the island, that it was named after the discoverer. At that time, about 10 thousand local residents lived in this place, which was more than in all of Australia. But wars, persecution of the Aborigines and diseases almost exterminated them, and some ethnic groups completely disappeared from the face of the Earth. And by the end of the 19th century, only three hundred local residents remained. And the island began to be populated by Europeans. The first colonists were supposed to develop industry and agriculture on the island. At first it was prisoners, guards and military personnel.

Tasmania Island: Australia

Detailed information about the geographical location of the island is available in all reference books and encyclopedias. This very famous place, popular all over the world, is one of the Australian states. The island is known as the "green state". Residents of the mainland love this place and appreciate its unique natural resources, affectionately calling it “the island of inspiration”, “holiday island” or Tassie. But holidays in Tasmania are popular not only among Australians. Tourists from all over the world come here to enjoy the picturesque nature and get acquainted with unique sights.

The island of Tasmania is located 250 kilometers south of the mainland. It is separated from Australia by the Bass Strait, which at its narrowest is at least 210 kilometers long. The area of ​​the island is about 70 thousand square kilometers. Almost 500 thousand people live here. The island is connected to the mainland by a regular ferry and rail line that runs from Melbourne to Davenport, as well as by air.

Description of the island of Tasmania

About 40% of the island's surface is protected by the World Heritage Committee. Despite the presence of large cities and a small territory, the nature of the island is preserved and valued, which is why there are many nature reserves and national parks. Tourism activity is very developed on the island and is one of the main directions of its economy. In addition, agriculture, the production of merino wool, as well as the mining of iron, copper and tin are developed here. Now the island of Tasmania is thriving. You can only get here by ferry or plane from major Australian cities.

Most tourists strive to get to the island of Tasmania because of its unique nature. Information on national parks and reserves is contained in the World Heritage Committee. The island has two nature reserves, 4 large national parks and two conservation areas. It is no coincidence that Tasmania is considered the standard of natural nature and the “lungs of the planet”.

Nature of the island

Tasmania has become popular among tourists largely due to its unique picturesque nature. The island is almost completely covered with evergreen forests, which have no analogues. There are many relict species here, long extinct in other places. About 10 thousand years ago, the island of Tasmania separated from the mainland, and therefore retained its unique nature. Huge rain forests, relict trees not found anywhere else in the world, beautiful waterfalls and clean fresh air - all this attracts guests from different countries.

The description of the nature of the island of Tasmania is very interesting. Large areas are covered with tropical forests, and there are huge heather deserts. Many trees reach a height of about 100 meters and are more than 2000 years old. The following rare plants are found here:

• southern beech;
• anthrotaxis;
• evergreen eucalyptus;
• euphoria tirucalli;
• many species of myrtaceae;
• efcrifia;
• Dicksonia Antarctica

The water resources of the island of Tasmania are also unique. Many lakes with crystal clear water, numerous streams and beautiful rivers. Many rushing waterfalls attract tourists with their beauty. The coastline of the island is intricately indented, forming bays and coves. The east coast is especially famous for its beaches.

Animal world

The island of Tasmania is famous for its many endemic species not found anywhere else. The animals are also protected and interesting to meet. What species are common on the island?

• The Tasmanian devil lives in wild forests. This small predator with very sharp teeth is protected and protected from extinction. In contrast, the unique Tasmanian wolf disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century.
• The Orange-bellied Parrot is rare, even in Australia.
• Dingo wild dogs are common here.
• There are many marsupials that live only in this region: kangaroo, bettong, red wallaby.
• The slender-billed petrel, flying almost entirely across the Pacific Ocean, returns annually to nest in Tasmania.
• The little penguin is also unique. It is no larger than a cat and has a short beak.

Climate

One of the hottest places with unfavorable climatic conditions for recreation is Australia. The island of Tasmania has a milder temperate climate. Although storms often occur here on the coast due to the meeting of cold air masses from the south and hot air from the north. But the climate here is more temperate than the rest of Australia. There are even clearly defined four seasons. In summer, which lasts from December to March, it is warm, not at all hot, with an average temperature of 21 degrees. The coldest winter month is July. But thanks to the proximity of the ocean, the temperature here never drops below 4 degrees.

Tourists often wonder when there is a lot of rainfall on the island of Tasmania. In fact, compared to the rest of Australia, there is little rainfall. Thunderstorms are possible in early summer, and rain in winter and spring. Snow is found only in the mountains, very rarely in lowland areas.

Cities and population of the island

About 500 thousand people now live in Tasmania. This suggests that there are no large cities here. The capital Hobart is inhabited by about half of the total population. But the island of Tasmania still greets tourists with modern cities. The population has spoken English since the days of colonization, so guests from all over the world feel comfortable here. Tourists are offered to visit the main settlements of the island.

Ways to get around the island

You can get to Tasmania by ferry from Melbourne, the journey time is from 9 to 11 hours. Or by plane, which is faster - you can fly there in an hour. Travel on the island is carried out mainly by car or comfortable buses. But a seat on the bus must be booked in advance. There are also well-developed air connections between the largest cities. If you are traveling on your own, please note that traffic in Tasmania is on the left, and the speed limit is 100 km/h, as the roads wind heavily. Cycling is very popular among local residents. On the west coast, a railway line remains between the towns of Streham and Queenstown. But it is now used more for tourism purposes.

Holidays on the island of Tasmania

The best time to vacation here is from November to April. At this time, the island is warm and you can visit most attractions without problems. But this place is not for those who like to fry on the beach. Even in the warmest months, the temperature here does not rise above 24 degrees. But still, the island of Tasmania attracts tourists. It is especially popular among lovers of a relaxing holiday or extreme mountain and water tourism.

There are comfortable hotels and resort areas on the island where you can have a good rest. In addition to comfortable hotels, vacationers can enjoy cycling, surfing, diving, boating and horseback riding, rock climbing, fishing and many other entertainments.

Natural attractions of the island

The unique nature of Tasmania is what attracts many tourists from all over the world every year. The most popular and interesting excursion is by ferry around the island. What other attractions can you visit here?

Cultural and historical sights

There are many places on the island that are interesting to see. Even ordinary cities retain the unique atmosphere of the last century combined with modernity. There are many painting and decorative arts galleries on the island, where you can purchase unique handicrafts. There are also cultural and historical attractions here. Residents remember the history of the island and carefully protect it.

• The most famous and frequently visited attraction is the prison in Port Arthur. This is a kind of prison town that existed until the end of the 19th century.
• The coal mines and Cascades Women's Factory are also worth a visit.
• The unique Tiagarra Museum, located in Davenport, tells the story and culture of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people, now almost extinct.

Shops and restaurants on the island

Tasmania was formerly an English colony. Therefore, mainly English cuisine predominated. Now here you can try dishes from all over the world. Local delicacies include seafood: lobster, salmon, the unique Tasmanian bighead fish, as well as a variety of shellfish. The town of Hobard is home to the Cadberry Chocolate Factory, and on Spicy King there are popular cheese factories. The island of Tasmania is also famous for its local beer and soft, fragrant wine. And you can taste the aromatic honey produced from the pollen of the rare Eucrythia lucidum shrub only here.

You can find many unique antiques in the shops on the island. The largest antiques market is located in Hobart. Here you can find furniture made from exotic woods, antique silver and interior items, books, and unique dishes. Tourists are also advised to purchase items made from locally produced merino wool, which are famous all over the world. And unique handmade products can be bought at the Salamanca Market in Hobart.

What makes the island unique?

Many people have heard of the Tasmanian devil, but not everyone knows where the island of Tasmania is located. Those who have visited this place call it a real paradise on Earth. Indeed, a warm mild climate, a relaxing holiday, picturesque nature - all this makes Tasmania unique. In such a small area, almost all types of natural landscapes are represented: tropical forests, jungles, savannas, deserts, mountain ranges, valleys, lakes, beaches and fjords. The unique flora and fauna, the preserved atmosphere of 19th century cities - these are the features of Tasmania that attract tourists.

About 250 km south of Australia, where the warm greenish waters of the Indian Ocean merge with the blue cold waters of the Pacific Ocean, at the latitude of the “Roaring Forties” there is an amazing island.

If there is a paradise on earth, then this is the Island of Tasmania. Australians call it the Island of Relaxation.

And indeed it is. Literally everything in Tasmania is created for relaxation, and permanent residence here becomes just a fairy tale.

History of the discovery of Tasmania

The area of ​​the island is about 68 thousand square kilometers and almost all types of southern landscapes are represented here. There are sharp mountain ranges and pampas, green valleys and plateaus, savannas and deserts, impenetrable jungles and rain forests, bottomless blue lakes, beautiful bays framed by white sand beaches and rocky fjords.

A wonderful climate, low rocky mountains covered with emerald forests, crystal waters of rivers and lakes, small cozy bays and coves, rare animals and birds make this place unique.

The history of the discovery of the island is amazing; since ancient times, this place on the globe has been notorious among sailors due to the fact that it is here that destructive storms most often occur.

But it was precisely to the sailors of the sailing fleet, who often escaped from destructive storms in the quiet bays of this island, that Europe owes the discovery, in the mid-seventeenth century, of this paradise, named after the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, the first European to set foot on this shore.

This fertile region has been inhabited by aborigines since ancient times. The warm climate, abundance of edible plants, game and fish allowed the indigenous tribes to live here for many years, “Like Christ in his bosom.” But with the advent of civilization, everything changed radically. The Europeans who came here rightfully appreciated all the advantages of this fertile island. The aborigines were first forced out from the comfortable places they lived on the coast to the mountainous places, and by the beginning of the 20th century they got rid of them altogether. The Tasmanian tribes for the most part were simply exterminated by the British colonialists. They were hunted like wild animals. The remnants of the aborigines died on the reservations themselves, due to diseases brought to the island from which the aborigines had no immunity. Here is a surviving photograph of the last Aboriginal people of Tasmania.

For settlement, the British brought convicts to the island. This served two purposes: they got rid of bandits in Great Britain itself and received free labor in the new colony. More than 75 thousand convicts were brought to the island, plus security for them. Prisoners plowed lands and developed agriculture, harvested timber, built cities, developed seaports, extracted copper from mines and built prisons for themselves. The convict labor was simply terrible. Without any equipment, often even replacing draft animals, these people uprooted trees, plowed virgin soil and did everything they needed to turn the wild island into a place where they could live well and comfortably.

Of course, the question of preserving nature was not raised at all, especially when copper was explored on the island. As a result, many of the most beautiful places on the island were disfigured, and the slopes, once covered with virgin forest, were turned into waste dumps. To restore all this to its original form will require many centuries, great efforts and funds. Even under ideal conditions, forests can be revived no sooner than in 500 years.

All convicts were kept in special settlements, the remains of which have survived to this day. Or in prisons, such as on the west coast in Port Arthur, which even now reminds the current generation who were the builders of New Tasmania.

Convicts who tried to escape from places of detention were generally kept in underground prisons, which were carved into the rocks, from there there were only two roads: to the cemetery or to the insane asylum.

But the terrible hard labor was not in vain. Within a few years, well-equipped towns appeared on the island, good roads with original bridges over numerous rivers.

Sights and nature

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Tasmania became a full state of Australia. And its capital is the city of Hobart, now a major seaport and tourist center. The seaport of Hobart is the second deepest port in the world after Rio de Janeiro and serves as the base for maritime communications with which Australia has its own considerable holdings.

Tasmania has excellent highways and highways, along which you can quickly get to any corner of the island, especially since public transport is very developed. There is also rail transport connecting the 4 main cities, as well as areas where timber is harvested and minerals such as copper, zinc, tin and iron are mined. The old cogwheel railway along which the train runs, built back in 1898, has also been preserved.

Despite the fact that during the development of the island, the attitude towards the unique natural features was barbaric, the flora and fauna of modern Tasmania remained very original, which serves as its main attraction. Most of the flora and fauna that live here can only be found here, on this small piece of land. Now this unique nature is protected by the state. More than half of the island's territory is occupied by seventeen national parks.

Many of Tasmania's unique animals are on the verge of extinction, or even completely exterminated. The reason for this was the thoughtless attitude of mining companies. So the marsupial wolf was almost completely exterminated by settlers only because it hunted sheep and poultry. And the symbol of the island, the Tasmanian devil, is also practically disappearing, although they say that this is not the fault of people, these marsupials are simply susceptible to a unique oncological disease - a facial tumor. Today, conservationists are waging an irreconcilable struggle against those who destroy the fauna and flora of the island. In addition to national parks, to preserve wildlife in Tasmania, the huge Bonorong Nature Reserve has been created, which is home to many wild animals in natural conditions. Koalas, wombats, and echidnas live here. It’s impossible to list them all.

And there are an incredible variety of birds in Tasmania. Moreover, among them there are such rare ones as the slender-billed petrel, which makes an amazingly long flight in a year - around the entire Pacific Ocean, returning each time to wintering in nesting grounds on the island. Another unique bird living in Tasmania is the little penguin. Its distinctive feature is the ability to “fly” under water.

In recent decades, the tourism business has been intensively developing in Tasmania. Getting to Tasmania is quite easy. There are many local airline flights from Australia. The second way is a ferry from Melbourne and Devonport, which is a kind of northern gateway for tourists from the mainland. Both in Devonport and in any other city, many hotels of various levels are available to tourists, from the cheapest to 5* SPA hotels.

Tasmania's second largest city is Launceston. The city will surprise you with its Victorian architecture and abundance of parks. Here you will see the picturesque Georges Cataract Gorge and visit the original Penny Royal World amusement park.

Most of the tourist routes organized on the island involve viewing natural wonders, as well as visiting historical places associated with the period of British colonization. Usually, all tourists heading to national parks do not pass by the small town of Queenstown, which is a kind of transit point. Once upon a time, this town was the center of gold mining in Tasmania, which is still reminiscent of the distorted landscape around it.

The natural beauty of Tasmania is represented, first of all, by the unique relict rain forests, which have been recognized as a World Natural Heritage for thirty years.

Among these forests you can see beautiful waterfalls with the purest mountain water. Some of them even have their own names. This one is called "Hogarth Falls"

And if you head along the coast of Pirates Bay, you can see bizarre cliffs on its southern side. Over many millennia, the rocky shores, washed by waves and blown by cold arctic winds, began to look like hand-made sculptures by artists.

There are also peculiar narrow gorges that resemble the ruins of huge structures. One of these is called the Tasman Arch. It looks like these are the remains of a huge cave, once washed by the waves of the ocean.

And then there are those that make terrible inhuman sounds when there is a strong wind. The most famous of them is the so-called “Devil's Kitchen,” which was so named because during storms it makes powerful, frightening sounds that scared sailors to death when passing ships.

You will probably be surprised by the man-made structures on the island, built using the most modern technologies. These are several artificial reservoirs, the dams of which are considered real works of engineering art. The power plants located under these dams fully provide electricity to the small industries of the island and its city.

It is interesting to see the lavender farms that exist here. Having spent just a few minutes in this field, you will remember the incomparable smell of Tasmanian lavender for the rest of your life.

Holidays in Tasmania

In addition to the usual tourist holidays in Tasmania, you can also enjoy active holidays. Tourists can enjoy surfing and diving, rafting and rock climbing, mountaineering and speleology, paragliding and mountain biking. There are excellent golf courses here, and excellent horses are at the disposal of horse riding enthusiasts. Fans of water skiing and the new water sport of wakeboarding, a unique type of snowboarding on a wake wave, can also try their hand.

We haven't forgotten about fishing lovers. You can rent any gear and test your luck in catching brown trout, black bream or huge crayfish.

And cruises to nearby islands are one of the most exciting activities for tourists of all ages. By the way, on Flanders Island you can see how semi-precious stones are mined. If you wish, you can also buy some jewelry here.

After a busy day, it’s nice to sit with a cup of coffee in a cozy street cafe, which is very popular in Tasmania.

Having visited Tasmania, you will not regret the days spent here, especially since they will fly by completely unnoticeably. But you use this time by combining business with pleasure. You will learn a lot of new things for yourself and receive a huge charge of life-giving energy.

Tasmania is a small Australian state, located south of Australia, and is separated from it by the 240 km wide Bass Strait. The chains of islands in the east and west of the strait connect Australia with Tasmania and remind us that once upon a time, the mainland and the island were one. This small corner of our planet will amaze everyone with its high standard of living, interesting history, well-being of the population, and, of course, the uniqueness and beauty of nature. Tasmania was discovered by Abel Tasman, after whom it was named. This is the smallest state in Australia; as of 2008, its population was about 500 thousand people.

History of the island of Tasmania

This island was discovered by the navigator Abel Tasman in 1642. A century and a half later, it was declared a possession of England, and the British founded a penal colony on the island. In the 19th century, the island was turned into a place of exile for convicts, as a result of which the famous Port Arthur was built by convicts in 1830. Prisoners who committed the most serious crimes served their sentences on the island. Over the course of several decades, almost all the natives were exterminated, and those who survived the genocide died from infectious diseases brought by the whites. In the 70s of the nineteenth century, the prison was closed, after which Port Arthur was very quickly destroyed and subsequently burned. Currently, the prison has been reconstructed, and tourists from all over the world can see it on excursions.

Capital of Tasmania

It was founded in 1804. It is the second oldest city in Australia. Its population is about 210 thousand people. Hobart is the administrative and financial center of Tasmania. The city itself is located in the southeast of the island at the mouth of the Derwent River. A temperate oceanic climate predominates. Summer in Tasmania, like in Australia, occurs in the winter months - from December to February, and vice versa, winter begins in the summer months. The temperature in summer stays around 20-22 degrees, in winter -4-8, maximum -12.

Nature of the island

The biggest and main attraction of the island of Tasmania is, of course, its nature. Many kilometers of beaches with pure white sand attract a large number of tourists. Tasmania's rainforest, designated a natural heritage site in 1982, covers 20% of the island. It includes two state reserves, four national parks, state forests, and two protected areas. The island is considered one of the last pockets of virgin nature in the Southern Hemisphere. Thanks to the excellent preservation of natural complexes, Tasmania is rightfully considered one of the standards of natural nature on the planet.

The nature of the island is unique and has no analogues in the whole world. Rivers National Park is the heart of Tasmania's wildlife. Here you can see deep river valleys, tropical forests, picturesque gorges, and mountain peaks that amaze the imagination. And among all this beauty, a large number of protected rivers meander.

Economy and standard of living in Tasmania

The main industries in the state are forestry, agriculture, tourism and mining - tin, zinc, iron and copper. Tasmania has a large number of industrial sectors that are exported to countries around the world. One of the leading places here is occupied by seafood. Cheap airfares, ferries between the mainland and Tasmania, and other favorable economic conditions contribute to the development of tourism on the island.

Today, the majority of the state's population is employed in government organizations. The group of associations is one of the major employers, owning two casinos, several hotels, and the largest wood processing company on the island.

Despite the financial crisis, the state of Tasmania is interested in qualified specialists and workers. The state's unemployment rate for 2009 was 5.3%. Here are just some of the professions that are predominantly in demand in the state:

• auto mechanic;
• seller of building materials;
• Chef;
• accounting and economist;
• civil engineer;
• junior health care personnel.

The average salary in Tasmania is quite high. For example, for such professions as cook, nanny, auto mechanic, office manager, secretary, waiter, the average salary is 2.3 thousand dollars per month. For senior-level professions, such as mechanical engineer, system administrator, production manager, the average salary is $4.5 thousand per month.

Accommodation in Tasmania

House prices in the state are lower compared to other states in Australia. The cost of an apartment in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, is almost half cheaper than the same apartment in Sydney. Moreover, the price of housing practically does not depend on its location: you can live in the city center, in the countryside or on the ocean. On average, the price of an apartment with a garage, two bedrooms and a bathroom in the capital varies from 250 to 350 thousand dollars. Rent an apartment or house with one bedroom can be from 210 to 270 dollars per week, with two bedrooms – from 250 to 350 dollars. Some rental homes already come with built-in air conditioning, heating, stove, boiler, carpets and fixtures, closet space and dishwasher. But such apartments are correspondingly more expensive.

Geography

Tasmania's area is 68,401 km². The island is located in the “roaring forties” latitudes in the path of persistent stormy westerly winds. It is washed by the Indian and Pacific Oceans and is separated from Australia by the Bass Strait.

The island is a structural extension of Australia's Great Dividing Range. The shores are formed by numerous bays (Macquarie, Storm, Great Oyster, etc.).

Geology

It is believed that the island of Tasmania was part of mainland Australia until the end of the last ice age (approximately 10,000 years ago). Much of the island consists of Jurassic diabase intrusions (magma seeps) into other rocks, sometimes forming extensive columnar structures. Tasmania is the world's largest area of ​​distribution of diabase, which forms many distinctive mountains and rocks here. It mainly makes up the central plateau and the southeastern part of the island. Mount Wellington near Hobart with its unique organ pipe columns made of diabase is a typical example. In the southern part, at about the level of Hobart, the diabase passes through layers of sandstone and similar sedimentary rocks. In the southwest, Precambrian quartzites from very ancient marine sediments form strikingly sharp ridges and mountains, such as Federation Peak and Frenchman's Cap. Continental granites, similar to the coastal granites of mainland Australia, can be seen in the northeast and east. The northwest and west are characterized by mineral-rich volcanic rocks. In the south and northwest there are also limestones with magnificent caves.

Zones of quartzite and dolerite in the high mountains bear traces of glaciation, especially on the central plateau and southwest of the island. For example, Mount Cradle was formerly a nunataq. The combinations of these different rock formations create stunning, unique landscapes. In the extreme southwestern tip of the state, the rock is almost entirely quartzite, giving the false impression of year-round snow caps on the mountain tops.

Relief

Since there has been no volcanic activity on the island in recent geological time, the topography is dominated by isolated steep plateaus and highlands with an altitude of 600-1000 m, making Tasmania the most mountainous state in Australia. The Midlands Lowlands, located along the Macquarie River (which flows into South Esk and then Taymar), with relatively flat topography and used mainly for agricultural purposes, separates the Eastern Highlands (highest point Mount Legs Tor, 1572 m) from Central Plateau (highest point - Mount Ossa, 1617 m - the highest peak in Tasmania).

Minerals

Climate

The absolute maximum temperature in Tasmania of 42.2 °C was recorded on January 30, 2009 in the village of Scamander. The minimum temperature of -13 °C was recorded on June 30, 1983 in the village of Tarralia.

Reservoirs

Thanks to its mountainous terrain, Tasmania has a large number of rivers, many of which are blocked by hydroelectric dams, which fully meet the state's electricity needs. Most rivers originate on the Central Plateau and flow down to the coast. Large settlements are usually located on the banks of river estuaries.

Flora and fauna

The flora and fauna of Tasmania are very original - a large number of representatives are endemic. Even those arriving from mainland Australia are subject to additional environmental controls in Tasmania, similar to those arriving in Australia.

In Tasmania, 44% of the territory is covered by rainforests, and 21% is occupied by national parks. Such ratios are rare. Trout-infested lakes, rivers and waterfalls, replenished by rain and meltwater, feed forests where Euphoria tirucalli, Eucalyptus regal and Hanna, Myrtaceae, Nothophagus Cunningham, Blackwood Acacia, Sassafras, Eucryphia lucidum, Phyllocladus asplenifolia, Dixonia antarctica and Dacridium franklinii grow. Environmentalists are still at war with miners, paper makers and hydroelectric dam builders. The barren desert of Queenstown, a mining city, is a stark reminder of the consequences of thoughtless waste of natural resources.

The fauna of these places also suffered, especially the thylacine, or marsupial wolf, an animal of a gray-yellow color that resembles a dog. He was nicknamed the tiger for the dark stripes on his back and rump. It’s a pity, but this lean, timid carnivore got into the habit of carrying poultry and sheep. Rewards were offered for killed thylacines, and by 1936 they had disappeared.

Another unique marsupial of Tasmania, the Tasmanian devil, may be facing extinction due to a unique cancer - facial tumor. Australian scientists are currently working intensively to prevent the spread of this disease among Tasmanian devils. Tasmania is also famous for its slender-billed petrel. Starting its flight in the Tasman Sea, and practically flying around the Pacific Ocean, the petrel returns to its sandy nesting grounds from year to year.

Not far from the nests of thin-billed petrels, where they fly only at night, there lives another bird that “flies” under water, the little penguin - with a short beak and weighing no more than a cat.

Population

In 1991, Tasmania's population was 359,383. Most of the residents are Anglo-Australian (more than 80%). This nation was formed primarily by the descendants of immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland. They are accustomed to counting their history from 1788, when the first colonists arrived on the island. About 1% are Aborigines, the indigenous population of Tasmania (Australoid race). It is believed that they have lived on the island for about 40 thousand years. There are also Chinese, Indians and other nationalities here.

The official language is English with a local accent. The overwhelming majority of the population, including aborigines, are Christians (most of all Catholics, followed by Protestants and parishioners of the Anglican Church, followed by Orthodox Christians). About 4% are Buddhists and Muslims.

Story

Etymology of the name

Aboriginal period

Photograph of the last four purebred Tasmanians, 1860s. Far right is Truganini, considered the last of them

Tasmania was originally settled by Tasmanian Aborigines (Tasmanians). Finds indicating their presence in this region, which later became an island, are at least 35 thousand years old. Rising sea levels cut Tasmania off from mainland Australia approximately 10,000 years ago.

At the time of contact with Europeans, Tasmanians were divided into nine main ethnic groups. Estimated [ whom?], at the time of the arrival of British settlers in 1803, the local population ranged from 5 to 10 thousand people. Due to infectious diseases brought by Europeans, to which the aborigines had no immunity, war and persecution, the indigenous population of the island was reduced to 300 people by 1833. Almost all of the Aboriginal people were removed to Flinders Island by George Augustus Robinson.

A woman named Truganini (-) is believed to be the last purebred Tasmanian. However, there is evidence that the last was another woman, Fanny Cochrane Smith, who was born in Waibalenu and died in 1905.

First Europeans

Tasmania at the end of the 19th century

The first European to see Tasmania was the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman on November 24, 1642. Tasman landed at Blackman Bay. In 1773, Tobias Furneaux became the first Englishman to land on the Tasmanian coast at Adventure Bay. A French expedition, led by Marc Joseph Marion-Dufresne, landed on the island in Blackman Bay in 1772. Captain James Cook stopped at Adventure Bay in 1777 with young William Bligh on board. William Bligh returned here in 1788 (on the ship Bounty) and in 1792 (on a ship Providence along with young Matthew Flinders). Many other Europeans visited the island, leaving behind a colorful array of names for topographical features. Matthew Flinders and George Bass were the first to prove that Tasmania was an island in 1798-1799.

The first settlement of Risdon Cove was established by the British in 1803 on the east bank of the Derwent estuary. A small party of settlers was sent from Sydney under the command of John Bowen to prevent French claims to the island. The alternative settlement of Sullivans Cove was founded by Captain David Collins in 1804 five kilometers south on the west bank, where there were more sources of drinking water. The settlement was later named Hobart after the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, Lord Hobart. The settlement of Risdon was later abandoned.

The first settlers were mainly convicts and their armed guards. They were tasked with developing agriculture and industry. Numerous settlements sprang up on the island, including convict prisons at Port Arthur in the southeast and Macquarie Sound on the west coast. During the 50 years from 1803 to 1853, approximately 75,000 convicts were transported to Tasmania. Van Diemen's Land was separated from New South Wales and declared an independent colony with its own judicial system and legislative council on 3 December 1825.

Colony of Tasmania

The British colony of Tasmania existed on the island from 1856 to 1901, when it, along with five other Australian colonies, became part of the Commonwealth of Australia. The possibility of self-government for the colony appeared in 1850, when the British Parliament passed the Australian Colonies Act, giving them all the right of legislative power. The Legislative Council of Van Diemen's Land adopted a constitution in 1854, which was sanctioned by Queen Victoria in 1855. At the end of the same year, the Privy Council approved changing the name of the colony from Van Diemen's Land to Tasmania. In 1856, the newly elected bicameral Parliament met for the first time, thus establishing Tasmania as a self-governing colony of the British Empire.

The colony's economy was subject to cyclical fluctuations, but throughout most of the time it experienced steady growth. With few external threats and strong trade ties with the Empire, in the second half of the 19th century the colony of Tasmania went through a number of favorable periods, becoming one of the world's shipbuilding centers. The colony created its own armed forces, which played a significant role in the second Boer War in South Africa. During this war, Tasmanian soldiers were awarded the first two Victoria Crosses for Australians. Tasmanians voted to form a federation with the largest majority of any Australian colony, and on 1 January 1901 the colony of Tasmania became the Australian state of Tasmania.

XX century

The state suffered significantly from fires in 1967, causing property damage and loss of life. In the 1970s, the government announced plans to fill the environmentally important Lake Pedder with water. The destruction of the Tasman Bridge, which the freighter MV Lake Illawarra crashed into in 1975, made crossing the Derwent River near Hobart virtually impossible. International attention was drawn to the campaign against the Franklin Dam project on the Gordon River in the early 1980s. This campaign contributed to the development of the green movement. On April 28, 1996, an incident known as the Port Arthur massacre took place, when Martin Bryant shot and killed 35 people (both locals and tourists) and wounded 22. After this, the rules on the use of firearms were immediately revised, new laws on gun ownership were adopted throughout the country, and Tasmania's law became the strictest in Australia. In April 2006, a small earthquake caused the Beaconsfield mine to collapse. One person died and two remained trapped underground for 14 days. Tasmanian society has been divided for some time into supporters and opponents of the construction of the Bell Bay pulp and paper mill. Supporters argued for the creation of new jobs, while opponents pointed out that environmental pollution would have a negative impact on both the fishing industry and tourism development.

Political structure

The form of Tasmania's political structure is determined by a constitution dating back to 1856, although many changes have been made to it since then. Tasmania is a state of the Commonwealth of Australia and its relationship with the Union and the distribution of powers between the various levels of government is governed by the Australian Constitution.

Parliament House in Hobart

In the 2002 Tasmanian parliamentary elections, the Labor Party won 14 of the 25 seats in the lower house. The number of votes cast for the Liberal Party decreased significantly and it was only able to win 7 seats. The Greens won 4 seats, representing more than 18% of the popular vote, the largest Green representation in any parliament in the world. On February 23, 2004, after being diagnosed with lung cancer, Prime Minister Jim Bacon resigned. During his last month in power, he launched a vigorous anti-tobacco campaign that culminated in a ban on smoking in many public places, including pubs. He died four months later. Bacon was replaced as Prime Minister by Paul Lennon. After two years in power, the party he led won the 2006 elections. Lennon resigned in 2008. He was replaced by David Bartlett, who formed a coalition government with the Greens after the 2010 elections. Bartlett resigned in January 2011. His successor was Lara Giddings, the first female Prime Minister of Tasmania.

Tasmania has several relatively uncontaminated environmentally significant regions. In this regard, local economic projects must meet strict environmental requirements, otherwise they are automatically rejected. Projects for the construction of hydroelectric power stations put forward at the end of the 20th century turned out to be controversial. In the 1970s, a social movement against the Lake Pedder dam project resulted in the creation of the United Tasmanian Group, the world's first Green party.

In the early 1980s, the state experienced heated debate over the construction of Franklin Dam. Arguments against the dam were shared by many Australians outside Tasmania, which was a factor in the 1983 election of Bob Hawke's Labor government, which halted the dam's construction. After the 1980s, the attention of ecologists turned to the cutting down of relict forests - an issue that caused great controversy. Public organizations recommended stopping clear cutting of protected relict forests by January 2003.

Economy

Mineral map of western and southwestern Tasmania 1865

Tasmania's traditional industries include mining (copper, zinc, tin and iron), agriculture, logging and tourism. An important export item is fish and seafood (Atlantic salmon, abalone, lobsters).

Over the past 15 years, the production of agricultural products new to the state has been actively developing in Tasmania: wine, saffron, chamomile, cherries).

During the 1990s, Tasmania's industry experienced a decline, leading to an exodus of some skilled workers to the mainland, mainly to major industrial centers such as Melbourne and Sydney. However, since 2001, the Australian economic situation began to improve. A favorable economic climate throughout Australia, low air fares and the introduction of two new ferries have created the conditions for a tourism boom on the island.

Today, the bulk of Tasmania's population works in government organizations. Among other large employers Federal Group, owner of several hotels and two casinos, and Gunns Limited, the state's largest logging company. In the late 1990s, following the introduction of low-cost fiber broadband, many Australian companies moved their call centers to Tasmania.

Due to undervaluation in the early 2000s and increased levels of intra-Australian and international immigration to Tasmania, the state's property market has experienced strong growth in recent years, even as Australia's housing market boomed. A shortage of rental housing is causing problems for many low-income Tasmanians.

The Tasmanian business environment is considered to be challenging enough for small businesses to survive. However, there are a number of successful examples of private companies growing into large corporations, for example, Incat, Moorilla Estate, Tassal.

Transport

Communication with the mainland is provided by regular flights, as well as the daily Melbourne-Devonport ferry service.

Hobart International Airport

Tasmania's main carriers are Qantas, with its subsidiary Jetstar Airways, and Virgin Blue, which operate direct flights to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. Low-cost airline Tiger Airways began flying between Melbourne and Launceston in November 2007 and Hobart in January 2008. The main airports are Hobart International Airport (no scheduled international flights since the 1990s) and Launceston Airport. The smaller Burnie Airport and Devonport Airport offer flights to Melbourne with Regional Express Airlines and QantasLink respectively.

Coastal sea routes are served by TT-Line's Bass Strait car-passenger ferries. Since 1986, the MS Abel Tasman has operated 6 overnight sailings per week between Devonport and Melbourne. She was replaced in 1993 by the MS Spirit of Tasmania, which operated on the same schedule. In 2002, it was replaced by two fast ferries, MS Spirit of Tasmania I and MS Spirit of Tasmania II, increasing the number of overnight sailings to 14 per week, plus one day sailing during peak periods. In January 2004, a third, slightly smaller ferry, MS Spirit of Tasmania III, began operating on the Hobart - Sydney route. This line was closed by the Tasmanian Government in June 2006 due to insufficient passenger traffic. There are also ferry lines from Bridport to Flinders Island and Port Welshpool. Two container ships owned by Toll Shipping operate daily sailings between Burnie and Melbourne. Cruise ships also call at the port of Hobart.

The Spirit of Tasmania ferry links the island with mainland Australia

The state is home to Incat, a manufacturer of high-speed aluminum-hulled catamarans that have set a number of speed records. The State Government tried to use them for shipping across the Bass Strait, but ultimately had to abandon the idea due to doubts about the survivability and suitability of these vessels to cope with the extreme weather conditions that sometimes occur in the Strait.

Tasmania, in particular Hobart, serves as the main base for Australia's maritime links with Antarctica. The Australian Antarctic Division is located in Kingston. Hobart is the base port for the French ship l'Astrolabe, supplying the French Southern and Antarctic territories. Hobart is the world's second deepest port, second only to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The main transport within the state is road. Since the 1980s, many highways have been upgraded. In particular, the southern bypass of Hobart, the southern bypass of Launceston were built, and the Bass and Huon highways were reconstructed. Public transport is provided by company buses Metro Tasmania.

Tasmania's rail transport consists of narrow gauge lines connecting the 4 main towns and mining and logging operations on the west coast and north west. The network operator is TasRail, a subsidiary of Pacific National. Regular passenger service in the state ceased in 1977. Currently only freight services are provided, but there are also tourist trains in certain areas, such as the West Coast Wilderness Railway.

Culture

Kitchen

During the colonial period, typical English cuisine predominated in most parts of Tasmania. The arrival of immigrants from other countries and changing cultural patterns has meant that Tasmania now has a wide range of restaurants serving different cuisines. Tasmania has a variety of wineries located in various areas across the island. Tasmanian beer, in particular brands Boag's And Cascade known and sold on the mainland. King Island, off Tasmania's northwest coast, has a reputation for being a boutique cheese and dairy destination. Tasmanians also consume large amounts of seafood (lobster, colefish, salmon).

Cultural events

To promote tourism, the Tasmanian Government encourages and supports a number of annual events on the island. The most famous regatta is the Sydney - Hobart Regatta, which starts in Sydney on Boxing Day and finishes at Constitution Dock in Hobart 3-4 days later, during the annual food and wine festival. Taste of Tasmania.

The first season of the Australian version of the reality show The Mole was filmed mainly in Tasmania, with the finale taking place at the famous prison in Port Arthur.

Movie

The most famous films shot in Tasmania are Ruby Rose's Story, The Last Confession of Alexander Pierce and a recent picture Van Diemen's Land. In all of them, the Tasmanian landscape is an important element, and the last two are based on episodes from the history of convict settlements in Tasmania. In 2011, the film “The Hunter” was released, which was also filmed in Tasmania.

Visual arts

Biennale Tasmanian Living Artists" Week is a ten-day festival of Tasmanian visual artists held at various venues across the state. More than 1,000 artists participated in the fourth festival in 2007. Two local artists have won Australia's prestigious Archibald Prize: Jack Carington Smith in 1963 for his portrait of Professor James McAweland and Geoffrey Dyer in 2003 for his portrait of the writer Richard Flanagan. Photographers Olegas Tručanas and Petr Dombrovskis are known for their iconic work in the anti-Lake Pedder Dam and Franklin Dam movements. English-born artist John Glover is known for his landscapes of Tasmania.

Mass media

A television

Tasmania has five television companies broadcasting through local television channels:

• ABC Tasmania(digital and analogue), daily local news broadcast at 19-00
• SBS One(digital and analogue)
• Southern Cross Television Tasmania Seven Network
• WIN Television Tasmania(digital and analogue), belongs to the network Nine Network
• Tasmanian Digital Television(digital only), network owned Network Ten

In addition to their own production, television companies rebroadcast national channels.

Sport

Spectators at Bellerive Oval

Sport is not only an important element of leisure time for Tasmanians. The state has produced several famous professional athletes and has hosted a number of major competitions. The Tasmanian Tigers cricket team successfully represented the state in the Sheffield Shield national championship (2007 and 2011 champions). Its home ground, Bellerive Oval, hosts international matches. Famous local players include David Boon and current Australia captain Ricky Ponting. Australian rules football is popular, although the state's bid for a Tasmanian team in the Australian Football League has yet to be successful. Several matches in this league were played at York Park in Launceston. In particular, since 2007, part of the games at this stadium have been held by the Melbourne Hawthorn Football Club, which has declared it as a reserve home arena. In 2006, the stadium hosted an infamous match between St Kilda Football Club and Fremantle Football Club, which ended in a draw after the referees failed to hear the final siren and the final point was scored after playing time had expired.

see also

Notes

Links

Administrative divisions of Australia
States	Victoria Western Australia Queensland New South Wales Tasmania South Australia
Territories