Victoria (Australia)

From Wikinfo

Victoria

Image:Victoria state flag small.png	[[Image::Victoria_state_ensign.jpg\|Victoria coat of arms]]
State flag (In detail)	Coat of Arms (In detail)

Image:VIC in Australia map.png

Capital

Melbourne

Area
— Land
— Marine
— Total

227 416 km2
10 213 km2
237 629 km2

Population (2002)
Density

4 888 200
21.5/km2

Time zone

UTC+10 (except during daylight saving time—UTC+11)

Highest point

Mt Bogong (1 986 m)

ISO 3166-2 code:

AU-VI

Victoria is Australia's geographically smallest mainland state, in the south-eastern corner of the continent. As of the 2001 census, the population was 4,644,950. Victoria shares the Murray River as a border with New South Wales to its north and a border with South Australia to the west.

Victoria is topographically, geologically, and climatically diverse. Landforms range from the wet, temperate climate of the coastal areas (notably Gippsland in the south-east), to the cool Victorian alpine areas which rise to almost 2000 metres (Mount Bogong is the highest peak at 1986 metres), to extensive semi-arid plains to the north and west.

The capital, Melbourne, contains approximately 70% of the state's population and dominates its economy, media, and culture.

For other cities and towns, see List of localities (Victoria)

Outside the manufacturing and service centre of Melbourne, agriculture dominates the Victorian economy. South of the Great Dividing Range, Victoria tends to be cool and wet by Australian standards, and has patches of rich volcanic soil.

North of the Divide, rainfall is lower, temperatures hotter, and soils much older. Nevertheless, the northern and western plains produce substantial grain crops, and support large numbers of sheep and cattle. The waters of the inland-flowing rivers are heavily utilised for irrigation, particularly in basins of the Murray and Goulburn rivers.

Victoria is the home of Australian Rules Football, with most cities and towns having at least one team.

The state flower of Victoria is the pink heath.

Tourism in Victoria

Skiing in Victoria, Fairy penguins, Melbourne Casino, Ballarat, Sovereign Hill, Puffing Billy, Maldon, Beechworth, Gippsland Lakes, Buchan Caves, Bendigo, Echuca, Murray river Golf Clubs, Hang-gliding, Gliding, Hot air balloons, Whale watching, Port Fairy Folk concert