Tasmania island animals. Tasmania Island, Australia: detailed information, history, attractions and interesting facts

South of mainland Australia is the island of Tasmania. This is a separate Australian state, characterized by 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 and cultural-historical sights make the island of Tasmania very popular.

History of the island

This place was discovered in 1642 by the Dutch traveler A. Tasman. He first considered the island to be part of mainland Australia and named it Van Diemen's Land. But only in the 19th century, when Europeans began to settle on the island, it was named after the discoverer. At that time about 10 thousand people lived in this place. local residents which was more than in all of Australia. But wars, persecution of natives 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 to develop industry and agriculture on the island. At first it was prisoners, guards and the military.

Tasmania: 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". Mainlanders love this place and appreciate its unique Natural resources, affectionately referred to as "Island of Inspiration", "Holiday Island" or Tassi. But not only among Australians, holidays in Tasmania are popular. Tourists from all over the world come here to enjoy the picturesque nature and get acquainted with unique sights.

Tasmania is located 250 kilometers south of the mainland. It is separated from Australia by the Bass Strait, which is at least 210 kilometers at its narrowest point. 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-rail line that stretches 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 major cities and a small area, the nature of the island is preserved and appreciated, so 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 is developed here, the production of merino wool, as well as the extraction of iron, copper and tin. Now the island of Tasmania is flourishing. You can get here only by ferry or by plane from major cities in Australia.

Most tourists tend to get to the island of Tasmania because of the unique nature. Information on national parks and reserves is contained in the World Heritage Committee. There are two nature reserves, 4 large national parks and two nature protection zones on the island. It is no coincidence that Tasmania is considered the standard of natural nature and the "lungs of the planet."

Island nature

Tasmania has become popular among tourists largely due to the unique picturesque nature. The island is almost completely covered with evergreen forests, which have no analogues. There are many relic species here, long extinct in other places. About 10 thousand years ago, the island of Tasmania separated from the mainland, so it retained its unique nature. Huge rain forests, relic trees found nowhere else in the world, beautiful waterfalls and clean fresh air - all this attracts guests from different countries.

Description of the nature of the island of Tasmania is very interesting. Large areas are covered with tropical forests, there are huge heather deserts. Many trees reach a height of about 100 meters, and their age is more than 2000 years. There are such rare plants here:

• southern beech;
• anthrotaxis;
• evergreen eucalyptus;
• euphoria tirucalli;
• many kinds of myrtle;
• efkryphia;
• Dixonia antarctica

The water resources of the island of Tasmania are also unique. Many lakes with crystal clean water, numerous streams and beautiful rivers. Many turbulent 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 that are not found anywhere else. Animals are also protected and it is interesting to get acquainted with them. What species are common on the island?

• The Tasmanian devil lives in wild forests. This small predator with very sharp teeth is guarded and protected from extinction. In contrast, the unique Tasmanian wolf disappeared in the early 20th century.
• The orange-bellied parakeet is rare even in Australia.
• Dingo wild dogs are common here.
• There are many marsupials that live only in this region: kangaroo, bettong, red walab.
• Thin-billed petrel, flying almost completely Pacific Ocean, annually returns to breeding 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, unfavorable in terms of climatic conditions for recreation, is Australia. Tasmania, on the other hand, has a milder temperate climate. Although there are often storms 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 in the rest of Australia. There are even distinct four seasons. In summer, which lasts from December to March, it is warm here, not at all hot, with an average temperature of 21 degrees. The coldest winter month is July. But due to the proximity of the ocean, the temperature here never drops below 4 degrees.

Often tourists are interested in 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 at the beginning of summer, rains are possible in winter and spring. Snow is found only in the mountains, very rarely - in low-lying 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 all the same, the island of Tasmania meets tourists with modern cities. The population speaks English since the time of colonization, so guests from all over the world are 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, travel time is from 9 to 11 hours. Or by plane, which is faster - you can fly in an hour. On the territory of the island, movement is carried out mainly by car or comfortable buses. But the bus needs to be booked in advance. Between the most major cities also developed air traffic. If you are driving on your own, you should take into account that traffic in Tasmania is left-handed, and the speed limit is 100 km / h, as the roads wind a lot. And among the locals, cycling is very popular. On the west coast, a railway line has been preserved between the cities of Streham and Queenstown. But now it is used more for tourism purposes.

Holidays on the island of Tasmania

The best time to visit here is from November to April. At this time, the island is warm and you can visit most of the 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 liked by lovers of a relaxing holiday or extreme mountain and water tourism.

On the territory of the island there are comfortable hotels and resort areas where you can have a good rest. In addition to comfortable hotels, guests 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 sights can be visited here?

Cultural and historical sights

There are many places on the island that are interesting to see. Even ordinary cities keep the unique atmosphere of the last century combined with modernity. There are many galleries of painting and arts and crafts on the island, you can buy unique handicrafts. There are also cultural and historical sights. The inhabitants of the island remember and carefully protect the history of the island.

• The most famous and frequently visited attraction is the prison in Port Arthur. This is a kind of city of prisoners that existed until the end of the 19th century.
• The coal mines and the Cascades women's factory are also worth a visit.
• The unique Tiagarra Museum, located in Davenport, tells about the history and culture of the Aboriginal Tasmanians, who are now almost extinct.

Shops and restaurants on the island

Tasmania used to be an English colony. Therefore, mainly English cuisine prevailed. Now here you can taste dishes from all over the world. Seafood is considered local delicacies: lobster, salmon, unique Tasmanian bighead fish, as well as a variety of shellfish. The city of Hobard is home to the Cadberry Chocolate Factory, and King's Sharp is home to popular cheese makers. Tasmania is also famous for its local beer and mild aromatic wine. And fragrant honey, produced from the pollen of a rare shrub, brilliant Eurythia, can only be tasted here.

In the shops on the island you can find many unique antiques. The largest antiques market is located in Hobart. Here you can find furniture made of exotic woods, antique silver and interior items, books, unique dishes. Tourists are also advised to buy items made of locally produced merino wool, which are famous all over the world. And unique handicrafts 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 Tasmania is located. Those who have visited this place call it a real paradise on Earth. Indeed, warm mild climate, quiet rest, picturesque nature - all this makes Tasmania unique. In such a small area, almost all types of natural landscapes are represented: tropical forests, jungles, savannahs, deserts, mountain ranges, valleys, lakes, beaches and fjords. The unique flora and fauna, the preserved atmosphere of the cities of the 19th century - these are the features of Tasmania, which attract tourists.

WHERE IS TASMANIA

Tasmania is one of the most big islands on the ground. In the ancient past, this piece of land, which is larger than the island (Ceylon), was part of the Australian mainland, but then separated from it as a result of tectonic processes. The shores of the island are rocky and heavily "corroded" by the sea, which has created long bays similar to the Norwegian fjords.

The climate of the island of Tasmania differs from that of Australia: in the north it is subtropical, and in the south it is temperate and humid. The conditions here are so healthy and comfortable that the island serves as a kind of "cottage" for residents. About half of the island's territory is covered by forests, and a fifth of it is occupied by national natural parks.

Tasmania was discovered in 1642 by the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman. At the head of an expedition of two ships that set off from Batavia ( modern capital Jakarta), the navigator circled Australia and discovered mountainous land in the ocean, covered with primeval forests. An extremely wild, strange and beautiful landscape opened up before the navigator. Tasman named the newly discovered land after the Dutch governor of Java, J. Van Diemen, but over time, another name was assigned to the island, reminiscent of its discoverer.

AUSTRALIAN "SWITZERLAND"

Tasmania is often referred to as Southern Switzerland, although the island is located at a latitude corresponding to the latitude of Italian Naples in the Northern Hemisphere. On its hills, which are fanned by the fresh breath of the ocean, scattered green valleys leading inland. Lakes glitter on the central plateau, wooded hills and high peaks rise, which cover with snow for half a year. Among them, the Ben Lomond massif stands out, reaching a height of 1617 meters.

And really high peaks and numerous lakes from which fast mountain rivers flow, and the meadows surrounding them give the local nature an alpine look. Almost in the center of Tasmania is the Great Lake, as well as the Eco and St. Clair lakes, from which the Derwent River flows. These deep and clear reservoirs are surrounded by bizarre rocks and resemble the picturesque mountain lakes of Scotland and.

The flora of the Tasmanian forests is similar to that of Australia. As in Australia, several types of eucalyptus trees grow here. One of these amazing trees - globular eucalyptus - only in Tasmania reaches 120 meters in height, competing with the recognized champion of the green kingdom - the American Sequoia. In the wet gorges there is a real kingdom of tree ferns and epiphytes, among which there are about 80 species of orchids alone. The wonderful Franklin pine grows in groups on dry slopes.

FROM THE TERTIARY

The fauna of Tasmania also resembles that of Australia - ancient marsupials predominate here, the ancestors of which arose back in those distant times when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. These animals did not survive on other continents and islands, because they were replaced by more adapted and "energetic" species.

Characteristic of Tasmania are wombats that look like small cute bears, miniature wallabies, and the Tasmanian devil, the largest of the marsupial predators. More recently, the Tasmanian wolf, an even larger marsupial predator, was found here. The last representative of this species, caught in 1933, died three years later in the zoo of the Tasmanian city of Hobart, and since then no one has seen a marsupial wolf.

The nature of Tasmania is protected with the help of a whole system of national natural parks. So, Mount William Park, created in 1973 specifically to protect the Forester kangaroo, the largest marsupial on the island. And the national park wildlife Western Tasmania has been recognized as so unique that it is listed as a World Heritage Site for Humanity.

Tasmania on the map

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Tasmania is small. Its length from north to south is only 266 km, and from west to east - 315 km. For a couple of days you can travel around it up and down. Australians affectionately call him "Tassi". It is very different from the Australian continent.

The navigator, the Dutchman Abel Tasman, was the first European to set foot on the land of this island in 1642. Van Diemen's Land - this is the name he gave to the island, in honor of the governor of East India, also a Dutchman.

Tasmania is very green Island. Due to the fact that it has been isolated for a long time, unique flora and fauna have been preserved here. Both endemic and European tree species grow on the island. Most of the area is included in National parks(there are about twenty of them on the skeleton), which are protected by law, and the water and air are surprisingly clean.

off the coast of Tasmania. Photo of the island from the air.

The island is so beautiful that it enchants tourists at first sight. It is almost impossible to imagine that in the middle of the 19th century it was an island for convicts and repeat offenders. The main prison, harsh conditions of detention was in Port Arthur. Today it is one of the attractions of Tasmania.

The capital city of Tasmania is Hobart. It is home to most of the island's population. All residents of the Tasmanian capital cherish the nature of their island and the traditions of the past. Traveling through the old part of Hobart is like traveling back in time. Streets, signs, houses - everything reminds not of a city of the 21st century, but of the scenery of a historical film set. For even more history, check out the Heritage Museum and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania.

For those looking for unique handmade souvenirs, the Salamanca Market awaits. Everyone here will happily meet numerous galleries, restaurants and cafes.

And at the end of the video from NG: "Tasmania is the country of the devils."

Jacques—Yves Cousteau: Sunrise in Tasmania

Physical map of Tasmania

Tasmania(eng. Tasmania) - an Australian state located on the island of the same name, 240 km south of the mainland of Australia and separated from it by the Bass Strait. The administration also extends to the nearest islands (King, Flinders, etc.) and the remote island of Macquarie. Population - 495,354 (2011). Area - 68,401 km². The capital and largest -. Other major cities are Launceston, Devonport and.

Geography

The area of ​​Tasmania is 68,401 km². The island is located in the "roaring forties" latitudes in the path of stable storm westerly winds. It is washed by the Indian and Pacific oceans and is separated from Australia by the Bass Strait.

Tasmania is a mainland island. The island is a structural extension of the Great Dividing Range of Australia. The shores form numerous bays (Macquarie, Storm, Great Oyster Bay, etc.).

Geology. Relief

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

The zones of quartzites and dolerites in the high mountains bear traces of glaciation, especially on the central plateau and in the southwest of the island. For example, Mount Cradle was previously a nunatak. The combinations of these different rocks give rise to unique landscapes. At the extreme southwestern tip of the state, the rock is almost entirely quartzite, giving the false impression of year-round snow caps on the mountaintops.

Since the island has not been volcanically active in recent (on a geological scale) time, the relief is dominated by isolated steep plateaus and highlands 600-1000 m high, which makes Tasmania the most mountainous state of Australia. The Midlands Lowland, located along the course of the Macquarie River (flowing into South Esk and then into Taymar), with relatively flat relief and used mainly for agricultural purposes, separates the Eastern Highlands (the highest point is Mount Legs Tor, 1572 m) from Central plateau (the highest point - Mount Ossa, 1617 m - highest peak Tasmania).

Minerals

The most important minerals: polymetallic and iron, tin, copper, gold, etc.

Climate

The climate in the north is subtropical, in the south it is temperate and humid. In July the average temperature is 8 °C, in February - 17 °C. On the plateau and in the mountains, the temperature of the winter months is below 0 °C. In the western part of the island, more than 1000 mm of precipitation falls per year (in Macquarie Bay - 2800 mm), in the eastern part - an average of 600 mm per year. There is a pronounced seasonality of precipitation, the maximum of which occurs in the winter months. In January and February, usually 30-40% of precipitation falls from the level of July and August, however, even in the driest months, rain falls every other day. There are more rainy days in Tasmania than in any part of mainland Australia.

Several areas in central Tasmania, as well as Flinders Island, were declared drylands by the state government in 2007.

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

Due to the mountainous terrain in Tasmania, there are a large number of rivers, many of which are blocked by hydroelectric dams, which fully meet the state's electricity needs. Most of the rivers originate in the Central Plateau and descend to the coast. On the banks of river estuaries, as a rule, there are large settlements.

The largest rivers - Teimar Macquarie (in the north) and Derwent (in the south) are full-flowing, but rapids, and therefore navigable only in the lower reaches. There are many lakes of glacial origin on the Central Plateau.

Soils

The soils in the west are brown forest, in the mountains podzolized and mountain-meadow, in the north and east - yellow and red soils.

Flora and fauna

The flora and fauna of Tasmania is very original - a large number of representatives are endemic.

In Tasmania, 44% of the territory is covered by rain forests, and 21% is occupied by national parks. Such relationships are rare. Lakes, rivers and waterfalls teeming with trout, replenished with rain and melt water, feed forests where spurge tirucalli, regal and Hanna eucalyptus, myrtle, Cunningham's notophagus, black acacia, sassafras, eucriphia brilliant, Phyllocladus asplenifolia, Dixonia antarctica and Franklin's dacridium - and environmentalists are still at war with miners, papermakers and builders of hydroelectric power plants. The bare desert of Queenstown, a mining and industrial city, is a harsh reminder of the consequences of the thoughtless waste of natural resources.

The fauna of these places also suffered, especially the thylacine, or marsupial wolf, a gray-yellow animal depicted on the coat of arms of the island, resembling a dog. For the dark stripes on the back and sacrum, he was nicknamed the tiger. This lean, shy carnivore is used to carrying poultry and sheep. Killed thylacines were rewarded, and by 1936 they were gone.

Another unique marsupial in Tasmania, the Tasmanian devil, may be threatened with extinction due to a unique oncological disease - a facial tumor. Currently, intensive work is being carried out by scientists in Australia to prevent the spread of this disease among Tasmanian devils. Tasmania is also famous for the slender-billed petrel. Starting flight in the Tasman Sea, and practically flying around the Pacific Ocean, year after year the petrel returns to its sandy nests.

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

Story

Name etymology

The island was discovered by Abel Tasman in 1642, who named it Van Diemen's Land (in honor of the Governor-General of the Dutch colonies in the East Indies - Anthony van Diemen, who organized an expedition to search for new lands). And in the middle of the 19th century (January 1, 1856), the island was named Tasmania, in honor of this Dutch navigator.

Aboriginal period

Photograph of the last four full-blooded Tasmanians, 1860s. Far right - Truganini, considered the last of them

Tasmania was originally inhabited by the Tasmanian Aborigines (Tasmanians). Finds that testify to their presence in this region, which later became an island, are at least 35 thousand years old. Rising ocean levels cut off Tasmania from mainland Australia about 10,000 years ago.

By the time of contact with Europeans, the Tasmanians were divided into nine main ethnic groups. It is estimated that at the time of the arrival of British settlers in 1803, the local population was between 5,000 and 10,000 people. Due to infectious diseases brought by Europeans, to which the natives had no immunity, war and persecution, the indigenous population of the island was reduced by 1833 to 300 people. Nearly all of the natives were resettled by George Augustus Robinson on Flinders Island.

A woman named Truganini (1812-1876) is believed to be the last full-blooded Tasmanian. However, there is evidence that the latter 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. The Tasman landed in 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-Dufren landed on an island in Blackman Bay in 1772. Captain James Cook, with young William Bligh on board, stopped at Adventure Bay in 1777. William Bligh returned here in 1788 (on a ship Bounty) and in 1792 (on the ship Providence along with young Matthew Flinders). Many other Europeans have visited the island, leaving behind a colorful array of names of topographical objects. Matthew Flinders and George Bass in 1798-1799 first proved that Tasmania is an island.

The first settlement of Risdon Cove was founded by the British in 1803 on the east bank of the mouth of the Derwent River. A small party of settlers was sent 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 coast, 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 Risdon settlement was later abandoned.

The first settlers were mostly convicts and their armed guards. They were tasked with the development of agriculture and industry. Numerous settlements sprang up on the island, including convict prisons in the southeast and Macquarie Bay on the west coast. During the 50 years from 1803 to 1853, about 75,000 convicts were transported to Tasmania. Van Diemen's Land was separated from and proclaimed an independent colony with its own judiciary and legislative council on December 3, 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 of the colony appeared in 1850, when the British Parliament passed the Australian Colonies Act, giving them all the right to 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 the change of 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 experienced steady growth throughout most of the time. With few external threats and strong trade links with the Empire, the colony of Tasmania went through a series of favorable periods in the second half of the 19th century, 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. The Tasmanians voted in favor of a federation by the largest margin of any Australian colony, and on January 1, 1901, the colony of Tasmania became the Australian state of Tasmania.

20th century

The state suffered greatly from the fires of 1967, which brought property damage and loss of life. In the 1970s, the government announced plans to refill Lake Pedder, which is of great environmental importance. The destruction of the Tasman Bridge, which was hit by the cargo ship MV Lake Illawarra in 1975, made it almost impossible to cross the Derwent River in the Hobart area until October 1977. 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 occurred when Martin Bryant shot 35 people (both locals and tourists) and wounded 22. After this, the rules for the use of firearms were immediately revised, new gun laws have been passed across the country, and Tasmania's law has become the most stringent in Australia. In April 2006, a small earthquake caused the collapse of the Beaconsfield Mine. One person died, two remained cut off underground for 14 days. Tasmanian society was for some time divided between supporters and opponents of the construction of the Bell Bay Pulp and Paper Mill. Supporters advocated 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

Form political structure Tasmania is defined by a constitution dating from 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 Commonwealth and the distribution of powers between the various levels of government is governed by the Australian Constitution.

Tasmania is represented in the Senate by 12 senators on an equal basis with other states. In the House of Representatives, Tasmania is entitled to 5 seats, which is the minimum guaranteed by the Constitution. In general, the number of members of the House of Representatives from each state is determined in proportion to the population, and Tasmania has never been able to get the 5th seat on the basis of this principle alone. Elections to the lower house of the Tasmanian Parliament are held on the basis of a multi-member proportional system.

Parliament House in Hobart

In the 2002 Tasmanian parliamentary elections, the Labor Party won 14 out of 25 seats in the lower house. The number of votes cast for the Liberal Party dropped significantly and it was only able to win 7 seats. The Greens won 4 seats, representing over 18% of the popular vote, the largest representation of the Greens in any parliament in the world. On February 23, 2004, Prime Minister Jim Bacon resigned after being diagnosed with lung cancer. During his last month in office, he launched a vigorous anti-smoking campaign that resulted 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 Barlett, who formed a coalition government with the Greens after the 2010 elections. Barlett resigned in January 2011. He was succeeded by Lara Giddings, the first female Prime Minister of Tasmania.

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

In the early 1980s, there was a heated debate in the state around the construction of the Franklin Dam. Arguments against the construction of the dam were shared by many Australians outside of Tasmania, which was one of the factors in the 1983 election of the Labor government of Bob Hawke, which halted the construction of the dam. After the 1980s, the attention of environmentalists turned to the clearing of relic forests - an issue that caused great controversy. Public organizations recommended that clear-cutting of protected relict forests be stopped by January 2003.

In 2008, the state government removed all drinking water infrastructure from the municipal government and created the Water Corporation, which has full control of these assets and is not accountable to the municipal authorities.

Population

As of 2011, the population of Tasmania was 495,354. Most of the inhabitants are Anglo-Australians (83.6%). This nation was formed mainly by the descendants of immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland. They are used to counting their history from 1788, when the first colonists arrived on the island. About 1% of the inhabitants of mixed (Caucasian-Australoid) origin identify themselves as Tasmanian Aborigines, the indigenous population of Tasmania. There are also Chinese, Indians and other nationalities.

The official language is English, which is spoken by 91.7% of the population. The vast majority of the population, including Aboriginal people, are Christians (the most parishioners of the Anglican Church are 26.0%, followed by Catholics - 17.9%, representatives of the united church - 4.8%, Presbyterians and Reformed - 2.4%). Atheists - 28.6%.

Economy

Mineral map of western and southwestern Tasmania from 1865

The traditional sectors of the Tasmanian economy are mining (copper, zinc, tin and iron), agriculture, logging and tourism. An important export item is fish and seafood (Atlantic salmon, galiotis, lobsters).

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

During the 1990s, Tasmanian industry experienced a decline, which led to the outflow of some skilled workers to the mainland, mainly to large industrial centers such as and. However, since 2001, the situation in the Australian economy began to improve. A favorable economic climate throughout Australia, low air fares and the commissioning of two new ferries have created the conditions for a tourist boom on the island.

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

Due to undervaluation in the early 2000s and increased levels of domestic and international immigration to Tasmania, the state's real estate market has experienced explosive growth in recent years, even against the background of the Australian housing boom. The lack of rental housing creates problems for many low-income Tasmanians.

Tasmania's business environment is considered to be challenging enough for small businesses to survive. However, there are a number of successful examples of the growth of private companies to large corporations, for example, Incat, Moorilla Estate, Tassal.

Transport

The Tasmania Island Rack Railway uses a steam locomotive built by Dübs and Company in 1898

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

international Airport Hobart

Tasmania's main air carriers are Qantas with its subsidiary Jetstar Airways, as well as Virgin Blue, which operate direct flights to, and. Low cost airline Tiger Airways began flights between Melbourne and Launceston in November 2007 and Hobart in January 2008. Main airports: Hobart International Airport (no scheduled international flights since the 1990s) and Launceston Airport. From the smaller Burney Airport and Devonport Airport, flights to Melbourne are operated by 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 night voyages a week between Devonport and Melbourne. It was replaced in 1993 by the MS Spirit of Tasmania operating on the same schedule. It was replaced in 2002 by two fast ferries, the MS Spirit of Tasmania I and MS Spirit of Tasmania II, increasing the number of overnight services to 14 per week, plus one daytime service at peak times. In January 2004, a third, slightly smaller ferry MS Spirit of Tasmania III began operating on the Hobart to Sydney route. This line was closed by the Tasmanian government in June 2006 due to insufficient passenger traffic. Ferry lines also operate from Bridport to Flinders Island and Port Welshpool. Two container ships owned by Toll Shipping make daily trips between and Melbourne. Cruise ships also call at the port of Hobart.

The Spirit of Tasmania ferry links the island to 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 transportation through Bass Strait, but was eventually forced to abandon this idea due to doubts about the survivability and suitability of these vessels to work in the extreme weather conditions that sometimes occur in the strait.

Tasmania, in particular Hobart, serves as the main base for Australia's maritime communications with. The Australian Antarctic Division is located in Kingston. Hobart is the base port for the French ship l'Astrolabe, which supplies . Hobart is the second deepest port in the world, second only to.

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

Tasmania's rail transport is represented by narrow gauge lines connecting 4 main cities and mining and logging enterprises on the west coast and in the northwest. The network is operated by TasRail, a subsidiary of Pacific National. Regular passenger service in the state ceased in 1977. Currently, only freight transportation, also exist tourist trains in certain areas, such as the West Coast Wilderness Railway tourist rack railway.

culture

Kitchen

During the colonial period, typical English cuisine prevailed in most areas of Tasmania. The arrival of immigrants from other countries has led to the fact that Tasmania now has a wide range of restaurants with cuisines of various peoples. Tasmania has many wineries located in various areas throughout the island. Tasmanian beer, in particular, brands Boag's and Cascade known and sold on the mainland. King Island, off the northwest coast of Tasmania, has a reputation for being a cheese and dairy boutique. Tasmanians also consume a large amount of seafood (lobsters, bigheads, salmon).

cultural events

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

The Targa Rally Tasmania attracts world-class riders and is held throughout the island over 5 days. Rural and regional events include Agfest, a three-day agricultural show in Carrick in early May, and the Royal Hobart Show and Royal Launceston Show in October. Musical Events: The Falls Festival at Marion Bay (a Victorian festival now held in both Victoria and Tasmania on the last evening of the year), MC Fest in Launceston (a benefit for people with multiple sclerosis) and the Souferne Roots Festival on Easter in Hobart. The latest innovation was the 10 days art festival on the island.

Literature

Among the significant works of Tasmanian authors, one can single out the novels “To a Life Exile” by Marquez Clark, “Applause with One Hand” and “The Gould Fish Book” by Richard Flanagan, “A Year of Dangerous Living” by Christopher Koch (based on the film of the same name), as well as the children's book Marion and Steve Isham, Tiger Tales.

Music and theater

Tasmania's music scene is diverse, ranging from the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra to Concert Hall Federations, to a large number of small bands, chamber orchestras, string quintets, saxophone ensembles and soloists performing at numerous venues across the state. Tasmania has a number of outstanding composers, including Constantin Koukias, Maria Grenfell and Don Kay, who is the head of the Tasmanian Composers Union. Tasmania is home to one of Australia's leading contemporary music groups, the IHOS Musical Theater and Opera, and the gospel choir Southern Gospel Choir. One of the most famous Australian metal bands Psycroptic was founded in Tasmania. Renowned noir rock band The Paradise Motel and power pop band The Innocents are local bands. In addition to the classical music season and many concerts by local and touring bands across the state, the Falls Festival during the summer holidays and Carols by Candlelight before Christmas are the two main events of the musical year.

The first season of the Australian version of the reality show The Mole was filmed mainly in Tasmania, and the finale took place in the famous prison in.

Cinema

The most famous films shot in Tasmania are The Ruby Rose Story (1987), Alexander Pierce's Last Confession (2008) and Van Diemen's Land (2009). In all of them, the Tasmanian landscape is an important element, and the plots of the last two were episodes from the history of convict settlements in Tasmania.

In 2011, the film "The Hunter" was released, which was also filmed in Tasmania.

In 2016, the film The Light Between Oceans was released, which was also filmed in Tasmania, in the town of Stanley. Stanley is located on a small, narrow peninsula in northwestern Tasmania that juts out into Bass Strait and ends at North Point. north point).

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 1000 artists participated in the fourth festival in 2007. Two local artists have won Australia's prestigious Archibald Prize for Portraiture: Jack Carington Smith in 1963 for his portrait of Professor James McAueland and Geoffrey Dyer in 2003 for his portrait of writer Richard Flanagan. Photographers Olegas Tručanas and Piotr Dombrovskis are known for their iconic work in the movement against the Pedder Lake Dam and Franklin Dam projects. English-born artist John Glover is best known for his Tasmanian landscapes.

Mass media

The television

Tasmania has five television companies broadcasting through local television channels:

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

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

Sport

Spectators at the Bellerive Oval

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

Football is very popular in Tasmania. A project is under discussion to create a football club in Tasmania to participate in the Australian Football Championship on the basis of professional teams from the local Southern Premier League and Northern Premier League. Shortly before the Australian Open, the professional women's tennis tournament Moorilla Hobart International is held in Tasmania. Its matches are played at the Hobart International Tennis Centre. Since 1945, the Sydney-Hobart Regatta has been held every year between Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

While a number of other sports are actively developing, some are losing popularity. For example, Tasmania has not been represented in the Australian National Basketball League since the revocation of the license from the Hobart Devils in 1996.

see also

• Furno Islands
• Bruni
• Gordon Dam
• Midlands Drought area. Tasmanian government (unavailable link)
• Rainfall and Temperature Records: National Bureau of Meteorology
• Tasmanian Devil, Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD)
• "Select chronology of renaming" Parliament of Tasmania
• Tasmanian Aboriginal People and History. Aboriginal Art Online
• Smith, Fanny Cochrane (1834-1905). Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
• The Early History of Tasmania, R. W. Giblin 1928
• "Prisoners and British colonies in Australia Archived 12 October 2007. ". Culture.gov.au.
• Lynn Davies. Lake Pedder. Center for Tasmanian Historical Studies
• Flora Fox Regional News
• ABC Television News (Tasmania), 7 p.m. Friday, 27/1/06
• shipping company
• "Don Kay" Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Tasmanian Composers Collective.
• PSYCROPTIC: Rise Above
• "The Paradise Motel" last.fm
• Beathoven and The Innocents - Official Website

Literature

• Tasmania // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• Kabo V. R. Tasmanians and the Tasmanian problem. - M.: Nauka, Main edition of Eastern literature, 1975. - 200 p.: ill.
• Sword S. Australia and Tasmania. - M.: Type. I. N. Kushnereva, 1898. - 3rd ed. - 150 s.

Links

• Tasmania in more detail
• Alexander Sosnin. "Untouched Tasmania". Photo report. February 19, 2018

The outlines of Tasmania (Tasmania), an island within Australia, located 240 km south of the mainland, resemble either a baby bib or a heart drying on clothespins, which perfectly reflects the whole surrealism of local life: most of the flora and fauna are not are found nowhere else in the world, and the bulk of the population of Tasmania for a long time were only aboriginal Bushmen and exiled British subjects. The 'Island of Inspiration', Tassi as the Australians call it, offers an abundance of amazing activities, from sleeping in the bush to meeting the Tasmanian marsupial devil, and this other world is located very close - just beyond the horizon.

How to get to Tasmania

To get to Tasmania, you must first arrive in mainland Australia, as the island is only served by local airlines. From Russia to Australia at least 20 hours in flight, not counting the time spent on connections (non-stop flights do not exist).

Flights to Tasmanian airports (in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport) operate from many mainland cities: Sydney, Canberra, Perth or Melbourne, for example. From the nearest airport in Australia - Melbourne - no more than 1 hour in flight. The service is provided by Australian airlines Qantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar, Regional Express and Tiger Airways.

From Tasmanian airports, the hotel is easily accessible via shuttle buses. Given the short distances in the cities, the bus will drop you right at the door of the hotel. The fare ranges from 20 USD to 30 USD. For the return journey from the hotel to the airport, you must pre-book a seat on the bus by phone and agree on the time of boarding and dislocation.

Prices on the page are for September 2018.

Melbourne and Devonport are also connected by a ferry service from the maritime transport company Spirit of Tasmania. Travel time is from 9 to 11 hours, the fare is from 126 USD to 187 USD per seat, 170-280 USD per bed in the cabin, depending on the season. Car transportation - 87 USD. Keep in mind that rental cars are often subject to travel bans between the mainland and the island, check this with your rental agency.

Search for flights to Sydney (nearest airport to Tasmania)

How to navigate Tasmania

Tasmania is divided into five regions:

• the capital, the city of Hobart, and its environs
• East Coast (including Flinders Island)
• Launceston, Tamar and northern Tasmania
• Northwest Coast ( main city- Devonport and Bass Strait Islands)
• Western territories

Transport on the island

The most convenient way to get around Tasmania is by car, which you can rent from any of the many car rental agencies; for this, it is enough to present international driver's license and credit card(or cash) for a deposit. Remember that Australia drives on the left side of the road and seat belts are mandatory. Be especially careful when driving around the island at night: animals of various sizes constantly strive to run across the road: from dwarf wallabies to larger specimens.

Tasmania's roads are very windy, and the speed limit of 100 km/h is often simply unnecessary: ​​you will hardly move faster along the serpentines. Always expect more travel time.

The island has a network of bus routes operated by two major transport companies: Redline Tasmania and Tassielink. Reservations are required online or by phone. It is recommended to carefully study the timetable and stock up on patience and time, as departures are often irregular and there are frequent delays along the way.

Tasmanian carriers Tasair, Airlines of Tasmania and Sharp Airlines offer domestic flights between the major cities of the island: Hobart, Devonport, Launceston and the islands of King, Flinders and Cape Barren.

The only railway line, the West Coast Wilderness Railway, runs along the West Coast between Strahan and Queenstown. Today it is more of a tourist attraction than a full-fledged way to travel. Travel time - 3 hours, passengers are offered lunch.

Another popular way to get around Tasmania is by bike. In any city there are a large number of rental offices; You can ride a bike on your own or join tourist cyclo-tours lasting from 1 to 25 days.

Popular hotels in Tasmania

Cuisine and restaurants of Tasmania

The island's restaurants have long been dominated by English gastronomic traditions (due to a close and long history of Anglo-Australian interaction). With the arrival of international migrants in Tasmania, it became possible to find a catering establishment for almost any cuisine in the world. Of the local delicious attractions, it is recommended to try seafood: lobster, salmon in various preparations, exotic deep-sea fish called Atlantic bighead (bred on Tasmanian marine farms) and a variety of shellfish: mussels, oysters, abalone and other shell holders.

Tassie Dining Card - a card that entitles you to a discount of 15 to 50% in restaurants, bars and cafes in more than 40 cities and towns of the island. Discounts are also available at some grocery stores, enotecas and culinaries. The map is accompanied by a 32-page Tasmanian restaurant guide. Cost - 39 USD, valid for 30 days for a group of up to six people.

Tasmania, like Australia, is famous for soft, fragrant and weak wine (the best wineries are located in the Tamar Valley), sparkling drinks, and local beer. The Cascade and Boag's brands are popular throughout the country.

King Island is known for its cheese factories, and Hobart for its Cadbury chocolate factory.

Try the exclusive Tasmanian honey, obtained from the flower pollen of the leatherwood shrub (brilliant Eurythia) - it is very fragrant and has a lot of useful properties.

The "Island of Inspiration", Tassi, as the Australians call it, offers an abundance of amazing activities, from spending the night in the bush to meeting the Tasmanian marsupial devil.

Shopping and shopping in Tasmania

Thanks to Tasmania's long isolation from civilized life, its colonial past and national passion for the preservation of antiques, unique antique gizmos can be found here: furniture and home decoration, silver, books, coins and porcelain. Furniture items made from exotic woods, such as myrtle or kauri, are in particular demand. Most antique shops offer overseas shipping services for purchased goods. Be sure to visit the largest antiques market in Hobart - The Antiques Market.

There are also many galleries of painting, arts and crafts and handicrafts on the island. In general, Tasmania has a really fantastic percentage of talent per capita!

Tasmania is also famous for its wool products; precious merino goats roam the area. You can buy wool yarn or ready-made products. Do not forget about edible souvenirs: fresh products, of course, are problematic to bring home, but cheese heads and bottles of wine can be taken with you.

Maps of Tasmania

Guides in Tasmania

Entertainment and attractions in Tasmania

Entertainment Tasmania can be divided into two large groups: admiring amazing nature and wildlife of the island and familiarization with the dark legacy of the colonial regime - visits to places of detention, former colonies, settlements and labor enterprises. According to the Tourism Office, the latter will be of particular interest to the British - they will literally be able to feel in the shoes of their ancestors.

Five of Tasmania's historic sites (all with prison roots) were most recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List: Port Arthur Prison Fort, Collieries, Cascades Women's Factory, Darlington Probation Station, and Brickendon Woolmers Estates.

The Tiagarra Cultural Center in Devonport tells the story of Tasmanian Aboriginal people (the island's indigenous people today make up 1% of the population). Inscriptions carved in stone dating back to the eighth millennium BC have been preserved here. The museum has over 2,000 artifacts on display.

Museum of Tasmania and Art Gallery has exhibits on the history, culture and decorative arts of the island, separate rooms are dedicated to the work of the natives, in particular, here you can see a model of a primitive canoe.