Midlands (Tasmania) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Midlands Tasmania
The bakery at Ross, a town near the centre of the Midlands.
Population	18,865
LGA(s)	Northern Midlands Southern Midlands
State electorate(s)	Lyons
Federal Division(s)	Lyons
Localities around Midlands: North West Tasmania Northern Tasmania North East Tasmania Central Highlands Midlands East Coast Tasmania South West Tasmania Southern Tasmania East Coast Tasmania

Map of the Midlands region of Tasmania, shaded in yellow.

The Midlands is a special area in Tasmania. It sits right between the two biggest cities, Launceston and Hobart. This region is known for its mostly flat and dry farmland.

It's called the Midlands because it's in the middle of Tasmania. The name might also come from the English Midlands in the United Kingdom. You'll find its name in places like the Southern Midlands Council and the Northern Midlands Council. The main road through it is the Midland Highway. Sometimes, people call this area "Tasmania's heartland."

Geography and Landscape

Most of the Midlands is made up of low, flat plains. Rivers like the Tamar in the north and the Jordan in the south flow through this area. Long ago, this land was mostly covered in natural grasslands. Today, farmers use it to raise sheep and cattle. They also grow special grasses for their animals.

On the eastern side, you'll see low hills and mountains. These are covered with dry forests. To the west, the land rises into the Lake Country. This area has many lakes that were formed by glaciers a very long time ago. The rocks here are very hard and strong.

Climate and Weather

The Midlands is the driest part of Tasmania. It usually gets about 450 to 600 millimeters of rain each year. The rain is spread out evenly throughout the year. This means it doesn't get as many very heavy rainfalls as Tasmania's east coast.

Because it's not right next to the sea, the Midlands has warm summers and some of the coldest winters in Tasmania. In summer, the highest temperatures are usually around 24 °C (75 °F). In winter, most days have frosts, which can sometimes be very strong. The coldest temperature ever recorded here was about −12 °C (10 °F) in 1902. That year, snow even fell in Hobart!

Farming and Soils

The soils in the Midlands are very fertile. This is because of the low rainfall and the rich rocks found here. These soils are great for farming. They are similar to the rich soils found in parts of Asia and North America.

The Midlands is a very important area for raising sheep. Farmers here raise many sheep because the land is so good for grazing. Some grain crops are also grown, but the summers can be a bit cool for them to grow very well.

Images for kids

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  Sheep in Longford, Tasmania