# Geography & States of Australia

**Parent:** [Australia.md](../Australia.md)  
**Authoritative source:** [Geoscience Australia](https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/australias-size-compared)

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## Overview

Australia occupies an area of **7,692,024 km²**, making it the sixth-largest country by total area and the largest country in Oceania. It is the only nation to govern an entire continent. The landmass sits on the Indo-Australian tectonic plate.

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## States & Territories

### New South Wales (NSW)
- **Capital:** Sydney
- **Area:** 800,640 km²
- **Population (2024 est.):** ~8.4 million
- **Key regions:** Greater Sydney, Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains, Snowy Mountains, Riverina
- **Official site:** [nsw.gov.au](https://www.nsw.gov.au)

### Victoria (VIC)
- **Capital:** Melbourne
- **Area:** 227,416 km²
- **Population (2024 est.):** ~7.0 million
- **Key regions:** Melbourne CBD, Mornington Peninsula, Grampians, Great Ocean Road
- **Official site:** [vic.gov.au](https://www.vic.gov.au)

### Queensland (QLD)
- **Capital:** Brisbane
- **Area:** 1,852,642 km²
- **Population (2024 est.):** ~5.6 million
- **Key regions:** South-east QLD, Cairns, Townsville, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cape York
- **Official site:** [qld.gov.au](https://www.qld.gov.au)

### Western Australia (WA)
- **Capital:** Perth
- **Area:** 2,529,875 km² (largest state)
- **Population (2024 est.):** ~3.0 million
- **Key regions:** Perth metro, Pilbara (iron ore), Kimberley, Goldfields
- **Official site:** [wa.gov.au](https://www.wa.gov.au)

### South Australia (SA)
- **Capital:** Adelaide
- **Area:** 983,482 km²
- **Population (2024 est.):** ~1.9 million
- **Key regions:** Adelaide, Barossa Valley, Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island
- **Official site:** [sa.gov.au](https://www.sa.gov.au)

### Tasmania (TAS)
- **Capital:** Hobart
- **Area:** 68,401 km²
- **Population (2024 est.):** ~580,000
- **Key regions:** Hobart, Launceston, Cradle Mountain, Southwest Wilderness
- **Official site:** [tas.gov.au](https://www.tas.gov.au)

### Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
- **Capital:** Canberra (also national capital)
- **Area:** 2,358 km²
- **Population (2024 est.):** ~470,000
- **Key features:** Parliament House, High Court, national institutions
- **Official site:** [act.gov.au](https://www.act.gov.au)

### Northern Territory (NT)
- **Capital:** Darwin
- **Area:** 1,349,129 km²
- **Population (2024 est.):** ~255,000
- **Key regions:** Darwin, Alice Springs, Kakadu NP, Uluru-Kata Tjuta NP
- **Official site:** [nt.gov.au](https://www.nt.gov.au)

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## Physical Geography

| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Highest point | Mount Kosciuszko, NSW — 2,228 m |
| Longest river | Murray–Darling system — ~3,750 km |
| Largest lake | Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda) — up to 9,500 km² when full |
| Largest desert | Great Victoria Desert — ~348,750 km² |
| Longest reef | Great Barrier Reef, QLD — ~2,300 km |
| Continental shelf | ~2.5 million km² |

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## Authoritative Data Sources

| Resource | URL |
|---|---|
| Geoscience Australia — National Location Information | <https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information> |
| Australian Bureau of Statistics — Regional Statistics | <https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population> |
| National Map (interactive) | <https://nationalmap.gov.au> |
| State & Territory boundaries (GIS) | <https://data.gov.au/dataset/ds-dga-bdcf5dc0-de07-4f13-8b75-57a4d7a1b0e3> |