Portal:South Australia

Topics Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Nature People Philosophy Religion Society Technology South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent and with a total land area of 984 377 km² (380 070 sq mi), it is the fourth largest of Australia's states and territories. It is bordered to the west by Western Australia, to the north by the Northern Territory and Queensland, to the east by Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and along the south by the Great Australian Bight and the Southern Ocean. With 1.5 million people, the state comprises less than 10 per cent of the Australian population and ranks fifth in population among the states and territories. The majority of its people reside in the capital city Adelaide, with most of the remainder settled in fertile areas along the south-eastern coast and River Murray. The state's origins were unique in Australia as a freely-settled, planned British province–all of Australia's other states were founded as convict colonies. Official settlement began on 28 December 1836 when the state was proclaimed at The Old Gum Tree by Governor Hindmarsh. The guiding principle behind settlement was that of systematic colonisation, a theory espoused by Edward Gibbon Wakefield that was later employed by New Zealand. The aim was to establish the province as a centre of civilisation for free immigrants, promising civil liberties and religious tolerance. Although its history is marked by economic hardship, South Australia has remained politically innovative and culturally vibrant. Today, the state is known as a state of festivals, and of fine wine. Show new selections Wind power in South Australia is a significant energy source for the state and South Australia is well suited to wind farms due to its proximity to the Roaring forties. South Australia has half of the nation's installed wind power capacity. As of December 2010, South Australia has thirteen operational wind farms, with an installed capacity of 1,018 megawatts (MW). A further 184 MW of projects are under construction. Wind farms do not emit greenhouse gases in the generation of electricity, and so wind power is considered a highly desirable form of renewable energy which assists in the reduction of the State’s reliance on coal and gas fired electricity generation. The Lake Eyre Basin has a drainage basin that covers one-sixth of all Australia. It is one of the largest internal drainage systems in the world, and covers roughly 1.2 million square kilometres, including much of inland Queensland, large portions of South Australia and the Northern Territory, and a part of western New South Wales. WikiProject Adelaide WikiProject Australia ...that construction of St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral (pictured) in Adelaide did not finish until 1996, 130 years after it began? ...that Sir Samuel Davenport, a South Australian parliamentarian, had an electoral district named after him? ...that Adelaide was the first city in Australia to introduce horse trams and the last to discard them for more modern public transport? ...that Smoky Bay in South Australia was named so after the discoverer noticed large plumes of smoke from fires lit by the area's Aboriginal people? Main: South Australia Buildings and structures in South Australia Culture of South Australia Education in South Australia Emblems of South Australia Emergency services in South Australia Flora of South Australia Geography of South Australia Government of South Australia History of South Australia Images of South Australia Organisations based in South Australia People from South Australia Sport in South Australia Transport in South Australia Visitor attractions in South Australia Queensland Northern Territory Western Australia South Australia New South Wales Victoria Tasmania Australian Capital Territory Visit Australia Portal Geography: Adelaide Hills | Adelaide Plains | Barossa Valley | Clare Valley | Coonawarra | Eyre Peninsula | Fleurieu Peninsula | Flinders Ranges | Kangaroo Island | Limestone Coast | Mid North | Nullarbor Plain | Riverland | Yorke Peninsula History: Kaurna Indigenous people | European settlement | History of Adelaide | Proclamation Day | Australian Overland Telegraph Line | Timeline of South Australian history Towns and Cities: Adelaide | Coober Pedy | Mount Gambier | Murray Bridge | Port Augusta | Port Lincoln | Port Pirie | Victor Harbor | Whyalla Economy and Politics: Premiers | Governors | Parliament | House of Assembly | Electoral districts | Legislative Council | State elections Culture: Croweater | Pie floater | Wine | The Advertiser | Adelaide Festival Centre | Adelaide Entertainment Centre | WOMADelaide | Adelaide Fringe Festival | Elder Park | The Crows | The Power | The Reds | Redbacks | Hindmarsh Stadium | AAMI Stadium | Rundle Mall People: Kaurna Indigenous people | Matthew Flinders | William Light | Charles Sturt | Edward Gibbon Wakefield | John Hindmarsh | George Gawler | Playford family | Don Dunstan Here are some tasks you can do to help with WikiProject Adelaide: The current Australian Collaboration of the Fortnight article is Brown Mountain forest. Places and landmarks: Southern Vales, Science Park, Sir Samuel Way Building, Cummins House, Adelaide Central School of Art, Pearson Isles Parks and rivers: Henley Square, Peace Park Events and people: Carnevale in Adelaide, Come Out Festival, SALA Festival, Ian Gilfillan, Edmund William Wright Streets: South Terrace, Currie Street History: The Chronicle (South Australia), Adelaide Observer, Adelaide Steamship Company, History Trust of South Australia, Electoral reform in South Australia Other: Category:Wikipedia requested photographs in South Australia, Category:Wikipedia requested photographs in Adelaide Assess: Category:Unknown-importance South Australia articles, Category:Unassessed South Australia articles, Category:Unknown-importance Adelaide articles, Category:Unassessed Adelaide articles Maintain: Portal:South Australia Template:/box-header The following Wikimedia sister projects provide more on this subject: What are portals? List of portals Featured portals