subject: The Varied Regions Of Australia [print this page] Australia is divided into different states, each with their own specific ethnic and scenic characteristics. Each state of the country has its own personality, lifestyle and uniqueness when put together creates the great country known as Australia. The following are the states of Australia:
The Northern Territory. This region measures 1.4 million square kilometers. Amongst its most famed sites is the asteroid impact site that occurred 300,000 years ago. The state capital is Darwin and among its ecological gems is the five million acre World Heritage Kakadu National Park that is renowned for its unique wildlife, natural beauty and art of the indigenous Aboriginal people.
Western Australia. The Western Australian state covers one third of the western side of the country. The region has a diversity of climates, because of grasslands to countryside settings to warm coastlines of the Pacific. Much of the economy of this region comes from the mining sector, from coal, mineral and petroleum extraction. The capital city is Perth and it has a total population of just 2.2 million individuals.
South Australia. Despite its name, the state is located on the central and southern part of the continent. It is famed for its wine country, with beaches and many national parks. The state has a total of 4000 kilometers of sunny coastlines together with vineyards of Barossa Valley, the cradle of Australian wine country. This state is often compared to the Mediterranean in climate and country setting. The state's capital is Adelaide and has a population of a little over 1.6 million individuals.
Victoria. This state is located on the southeast corner of the continent. This is the renowned center for cultural diversity as there are as many 175 languages spoken in the state alone. Nearly 90% of the state's five and half million inhabitants live in and around the capital city of Melbourne. Because of the diversity, this state is renowned as the most urban state of the Australian union and many of the conglomerates working in Australia call this state their home.
Tasmania. This is one state not directly attached to the mainland Australia. This island is home to much of the Aboriginal art history as well as early European settlements in the country. This rich heritage is ensconced in a natural environment centralized on the Wilderness World Heritage Area. The capital of this island state is Hobart and is the least populated state with only about 200,000 people.
Australian Capital Territory. This is an area within New South Wales where the capital of Australia is situated. The capital city is Canberra with a population of nearly 400,000 individuals. The city is a designed area of circles and rectangles connected by wide streets and boulevards. The capital territory sits between snowy mountains and native bush but presents itself as both the historical and modern life of Australia.
New South Wales. The eastern part of Australia is where New South Wales is located. The state boasts of mountains, beaches, islands and national parks. It is also home to the largest number of inhabitants in the country totaling seven million people. It is also where the capital city of Sydney is located, with its iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the renowned Opera House. It also boasts of Bondi Beach, Australia's most famous tourist beach location.
Queensland. This is the beach country in the continent and is host to one of the world's natural heritage sites, the Great Barrier Reef. It is the area where tourists and locals alike go to fish, dive and snorkel. Its capital of Brisbane is a known tourist hub and its unofficial party capital is Gold Coast. In the off-season, the population is at just four million which swells come summertime.
