1. An Australian state on the island of Tasmania.
2. An island off the southeastern coast of Australia.
Formerly (1642–1856) Van Diemen’s Land
Island off the south coast of Australia; a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
area 67,800 sq km/26,171 sq mi
capital Hobart
towns and cities Launceston (chief port)
features an island state (including small islands in the Bass Strait, and Macquarie Island); Franklin River, a wilderness area saved from a hydroelectric scheme 1983, which also has a prehistoric site; unique fauna including the Tasmanian devil
industries wool, dairy products, apples and other fruit, timber, iron, tin, coal, copper, silver

history the first European to visit here was Abel Tasman 1642; the last of the Tasmanian Aboriginals died 1876. Tasmania joined the Australian Commonwealth as a state 1901.