List of islands of Tasmania facts for kids
Tasmania is Australia's smallest and most southern state. It's mainly one large island, covering about 64,519 square kilometers (24,911 sq mi). But Tasmania isn't just one island! It also includes over 1,000 smaller islands. These smaller islands add up to about 4,055 square kilometers (1,566 sq mi) of land.
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Islands of Tasmania: How They Are Grouped
Many of Tasmania's islands are part of special island groups. Think of them like families of islands! Some of these groups include the Furneaux, Hunter, and Maatsuyker groups.
Island Regions
The islands are often sorted by which coast they are near. Also, Bass Strait, the sea that separates Tasmania from mainland Victoria, is a big dividing line.
There are five main regions for islands in the north and Bass Strait:
- North West Islands: This group includes King Island.
- North Coast Islands
- North Bass Strait Islands
- Furneaux Islands
- North East Islands
In the south, you'll find:
- South and West Islands
- East Coast Islands
Island Ownership
Tasmania has 334 islands in total. Only 16 of these are privately owned. Most of these private islands have special rules called "conservation covenants." These rules help protect the land and stop too much building. A few private islands have "freehold" titles, which means they have fewer restrictions.
A Look at Some Tasmanian Islands
Many of Tasmania's islands are unpopulated, meaning no one lives on them. Some are nature reserves, protecting wildlife and plants. Others are used for things like grazing animals.
Here are a few examples of islands you might find in Tasmania:
- Bruny Island: Located in the Tasman Sea, this is a larger island covering about 35,300 hectares (87,228 acres). It has a population of around 220 people and is used for various purposes.
- Flinders Island: Found in Bass Strait, Flinders Island is very large, about 134,000 hectares (331,120 acres). It has a population of about 922 people and is used for many different things.
- Macquarie Island: This island is far out in the South-western Pacific Ocean. It's a large island, about 12,400 hectares (30,641 acres), and is unpopulated. It's also a World Heritage Site, meaning it's very important globally for its natural beauty and history.
- Maria Island: In the Tasman Sea, Maria Island covers about 10,100 hectares (24,958 acres). No one lives there, and it's part of the Maria Island National Park, a protected area.
- Sarah Island: Located in Macquarie Harbour, this smaller island (8 hectares or 20 acres) is an important historic site.
Many other islands are much smaller, sometimes just a few hectares or even less than one hectare. These tiny islands are often unpopulated and serve as important habitats for birds and other wildlife. For example, Bass Pyramid is only 0.01 hectares (0.02 acres) and is a nature reserve.
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