Situation and Area.

Tasmania lies about 120 miles south of the continent of Australia, from which it is separated by Bass' Strait. From north to south the extent is about 170 miles, and from east to west about 160 miles. The total area, including islands belonging to the colony, is nearly 17,000,000 acres, of which over 4,000,000 are in private hands, while about 2,000,000 are rented from the Crown.