Victoria (Australia)
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| Other Australia states | |||||
| Capital | Melbourne | ||||
| Governor | HE Mr John Landy | ||||
| Premier | Steve Bracks | ||||
| Area | |||||
| - Total | 237 629 km² | ||||
| - Land | 227 416 km² | ||||
| - Marine | 10 213 km² | ||||
| Population | |||||
| - 2004 | 5,012,300 | ||||
| - Density | 22 /km² | ||||
| Time zone | UTC+10 (except during daylight saving time–UTC+11) | ||||
| - Highest | Mt Bogong (1 986 m) meters | ||||
| ISO 3166-2 | AU-VI | ||||
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Victoria is Australia's smallest mainland state in terms of area and is situated in the south-eastern corner of the continent. As of December 8 2004, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has the population of Victoria reaching 5 million for the first time, thus making it the most densely populated state in Australia.
Victoria's northern border is the southbank of the Murray River, the river itself being part of New South Wales. It borders South Australia to the west. In this space are topographically, geologically and climatically diverse areas ranging from the wet, temperate climate of Gippsland in the southeast to the snow-covered Victorian alpine areas which rise to almost 2000 m (with Mount Bogong the highest peak at 1986 m) and extensive semi-arid plains to the west and north-west.
The state's 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, with its comparatively rich soils and temperature and wet climates compared to the rest of Australia. Major export agricultural activities include beef and dairy cattle, wool and lamb production and wheat (primarily in the drier western half of the state), with irrigated fruit and vegetable growers around Melbourne and along the Murray River. Wine grape production grew rapidly during the 1990s.
Victoria is generally regarded as the home of Australian Rules Football, with 10 of the 16 clubs of the major league (see Australian Football League) based in Victoria, and the traditional Grand Final held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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State flora and fauna
- The state flower is the pink heath.
- The state animal is the Leadbeater's possum
- The state bird is the helmeted honeyeater
Tourism in Victoria
Ballarat, Beechworth, Bendigo, Buchan Caves, Echuca, Fairy penguins, Geelong, Gippsland Lakes, Gliding, Great Ocean Road, Hang-gliding, Hot air balloons, Maldon, Melbourne Casino, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Murray river Golf Clubs, Port Fairy Folk concert, Puffing Billy, Skiing in Victoria, Sovereign Hill, The Twelve Apostles, Whale watching
Geology
Vulcanism and geology, Gold mining, Brown coal, Offshore oil drilling
Rivers in Victoria
Murray River, Ovens River, King River, Campaspe River, Lodden River, Wimmera River, Elgin River, Barwon River, Thompson River, Snowy River, Latrobe River, Yarra River, Maribyrnong River, Mitta River, Kiewa River
See also
- List of localities (Victoria)
- List of Victoria (Australia) highways
- Politics of Victoria
- History of Victoria
- National Parks (Victoria, Australia)
- Parliament of Victoria
- Victorian Certificate of Education
- State Cricket Team (Bushrangers)
External links
de:Victoria (Australien)
et:Victoria (Austraalia)
fr:État du Victoria
he:ויקטוריה (אוסטרליה)
nl:Victoria (Australië)
ja:ヴィクトリア州
simple:Victoria
