Portal:Tasmania

The Tasmania Portal Topics Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Nature People Philosophy Religion Society Technology Template:/box-header Coat of Arms of Tasmania Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name. It is located 240 kilometres (150 mi) south of the eastern side of the continent, being separated from it by Bass Strait. The state of Tasmania includes the island of Tasmania, and other surrounding islands. Tasmania has a population of 484,700 and an area of 68,332 square kilometres (26,383 sq mi). Tasmania promotes itself as the Natural State and the "Island of Inspiration" owing to its large, and relatively unspoiled natural environment. Formally, almost 37% of Tasmania is in reserves, National Parks and World Heritage Sites. The island is 364 kilometres long from the northernmost point to the southernmost point, and 306 kilometres from west to east. The state capital and largest city is Hobart, which encompasses the local government areas of City of Hobart, City of Glenorchy and City of Clarence. Other major population centres include Launceston in the north, and Devonport and Burnie in the northwest. Template:/box-footer The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), also referred to simply as 'the devil', is a carnivorous marsupial now found in the wild only in the Australian island state of Tasmania. The Tasmanian Devil is the only extant member of the genus Sarcophilus. The size of a small dog, but stocky and muscular, the Tasmanian Devil is now the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world (after the recent extinction of the Thylacine in 1936). It is characterised by its black fur, offensive odour when stressed, extremely loud and disturbing screech, and viciousness when feeding. It is known to both hunt prey and scavenge carrion and although it is usually solitary, it sometimes eats with other devils. The Tasmanian Devil became extirpated on the Australian mainland about 400 years before European settlement in 1788. Because they were seen as a threat to livestock in Tasmania, devils were hunted until 1941, when they became officially protected. Since the late 1990s devil facial tumour disease has reduced the devil population significantly and now threatens the survival of the species, which may soon be listed as endangered. Programs are currently being undertaken by the Tasmanian government to reduce the impact of the disease. Freycinet Peninsula is a large peninsula in eastern Tasmania, Australia. It is located north of Schouten Island, encompasses area of Freycinet National Park. It is named after French explorer Louis de Freycinet. Jan 11: The Airbus 3-19 has departed Hobart and arrived at Antarctica, making it the first successful plane flight to Antarctica in history. Dec 29: The price of electricity will rise significantly in the new year, greatly disadvantaging hotels and restaurants, and in turn incurring higher goods and services costs for households. ...that an elaborate network of coastal batteries was built by British colonial authorities to protect Hobart Town, but it was never used to defend the Tasmanian port from attacks by enemy warships? ...that after Anthony Kemp returned to England where he was questioned about his involvement in the overthrow of William Bligh (pictured) as Governor of New South Wales, he again went south and became known as the "father of Tasmania"? ...that global warming has had a positive effect on the Tasmanian wine industry allowing it to grow grapes more successfully then what would otherwise be possible? ...that Edward Abbott was the first judge to sit in a permanent civil court in the Australian State of Tasmania? Queensland Northern Territory Western Australia South Australia New South Wales Victoria Tasmania Australian Capital Territory Visit Australia Portal Template:/box-footer WikiProject Tasmania WikiProject Australia Create: Mawson Plateau, Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission of Tasmania, Trafalgar Centre, Tasmanian Ocean Trout Expand: Freycinet Peninsula, Lenah Valley, George Adams Images: Lake Fidler, TAFE Tasmania, Janie Dickenson Polish: Beaconsfield Mine collapse, Port Arthur massacre, Burnie Template:/box-footer Template:/box-header The following Wikimedia sister projects provide more on this subject: Template:/box-footer What are portals? List of portals Featured portals