Queensland is often referred to as the 'holiday state' and this is certainly a fitting title. The population of approximately 3.5 million live in the states 1,727,000 square kilometers.

Queensland holds activities for everyone, and is the perfect holiday destination. It includes Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef, many islands along the coast, a great number of beaches, rainforests and National Parks.

The many islands located along the Queensland coast offer a wide range of different attractions, activities and landscapes. Several of the more popular islands include North Stradbroke Island, Moreton Island, Fraser Island, the Southern Reef Islands, Great Keppel Island, the Whitsunday Islands, Magnetic Island, Fitzroy Island, Green Island, Lizard Island and the Torres Strait Islands.
                  
The wide range of small towns between Brisbane and Cairns offer all activities related to the sea. Whilst visiting the inland National Parks, you are also sure to come across the small isolated towns and cattle stations. You may be lucky enough to reach Birdsville, along the Birdsville Track, the most isolated of all.

The Great Dividing Range aligns the coast with mountainous views. Inland, beautiful scenery can be found in the Atherton Tableland, along with agricultural land. The most productive of all agricultural growth is found in the Darling Downs. Further north the wilderness grows deeper. It incorporates a barren outback of desert, empty roads, and small towns, which occassionally blooms when it rains. The Cape York Peninsula is also affected by rain, many of it's dry riverbeds flood in heavy rain.

The hotter but wetter seasons are between November/December and April/May, while the rest of the year tends to be cooler and drier. Queensland is also crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn, through Rockhampton and Longreach.

A LITTLE HISTORY

In 1824 Queensland began as a penal colony, with settlers following shortly after. It wasn't, however, until 1859 that Queensland became an independent colony from New South Wales. During a large part of the 19th century there was great tension between the white settlers and the Aboriginal people, resulting in fierce opposition.

The first British settlement was in Cooktown, which is also home to a large gold rush. The main industries in Queensland are agriculture and mining, taking up the substantial part of mineral wealth in Australia. More recently, the state has earned money in tourism, a growing development in Queensland.

QUEENSLAND FACTS

• * Queensland Area: 1,734,157 square kilometres
• 
  * Queensland Population: 4,053,400
• 
  * Queensland Capital: Brisbane
• 
  * Main Industries: Manufacturing, Property & Business Services / Ownership, Mining and Retail
  
• * Queensland Unemployment Rate (2006): 3.7%


• * Average Weekly Earnings for Employees (2006): Males $980.10 Females $620.90
• 
  * Queensland Births (2005): 52,765
  
• * Brisbane's Mean Maximum Temperature (Summer): 30.4°c


• * Brisbane's Mean Minimum Temperature (Summer): 21.4°c
• 
  * Brisbane's Mean Maximum Temperature (Winter): 21.1°c

Australia is divided into 6 States and 2 Territories:

Territories:

Australian Capital Territory (ACT), National capital --- Canberra
Northern Territory (NT), Territory capital --- Darwin

States:

New South Wales (NSW), State capital --- Sydney
Victoria (VIC), State capital --- Melbourne
Tasmania (TAS), State capital --- Hobart
South Australia (SA), State capital --- Adelaide
Western Australia (WA), State capital --- Perth
Queensland (QLD), State capital --- Brisbane

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