Tasmania is the smallest (about the size of West Virginia) and most southerly of Australia's six states. It has a population of 473,000 and lies about 124 miles south of Australia, separated from the mainland by Bass Strait.
It was originally named Van Diemans Land by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642. In 1803 it was settled by the British as a penal colony. During a tragic period following the arrival of the British, nearly 5,000 Aboriginals, who had lived on the island for more than 50,000 years, were killed through a combination of disease, relocation and slaughter.
The capital city is Hobart with a population of 193,000. Interestingly, Hobart has half the rain of Sydney, and more sun than Melbourne. More than 20 percent of Tasmania is considered a World Heritage Area for its natural wonders.
Many people of heard of Tasmanian Devils, an odd creature native to Tasmania. These marsupials are small with oversized heads and are known for their aggressive, predatory temperaments.