sheepscape tasmania postcard

Tasmania, Australia. Tasmania is an island state, part of the Commonwealth of Australia, located 240 kilometres (150 mi) to the south of the Australian continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania, the 26th largest island in the world, and the surrounding 334 islands. The Midlands and the Lower Derwent regions of Tasmania present a different story from the rest of the state. Owing to a relatively dry climate and alkaline parent material, these soils are relatively unleached and contain lime in the deeper subsoil. Their higher nutrient levels allow them to support productive pasture, and large numbers of sheep are grazed in these regions.