Hobart

Hobart is a harbor and the capital of the Australian island state of Tasmania, located on the estuary of the Derwent River in the state's south-east. Hobart was first built in 1803, being the second oldest city in Australia after Sydney. It covers an area of 1357.3 square kilometers and has a population of 210,656（2011）. The well-known university of Tasmania is seated in the city.

Hobart is embraced by mount wellington in the southern, western and northern sides, and is looking out to the sea in the east. It has a mild temperate oceanic climate with four distinct seasons .As a city in the southern hemisphere, its summer lasts from December to February, and winter from June to August. The city is just the right kind of place for skiing in winter and a resort for mountaineering in summer.

Hobart is the economic, cultural and transportation center of Tasmania. The main industries include metal smelting, steel, paper making, textile, dyeing, chemical fertilizer, timber, meat processing, fruits, with the largest zinc electrolysis plant in Australia located in the city. During the mid-19th century, Hobart had been a major whaling port and a shipbuilding center. With a capacity of ten thousand tons of large ships, the city was a supply depot for ocean-going fleet from all over the world and a transportation hub of Tasmania.

The modern history of Hobart dates to its foundation by Australians in 1803, only 16 years later than that of Sydney. As the second oldest city in Australia, the city holds abundant historic architecture. Hobart is also internationally famous among the yachting community as the finish of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race which starts in Sydney on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas Day). The arrival of the yachts is celebrated as part of the Hobart Summer Festival.

Hobart is home to the main campus of the university of Tasmania, one of the four world-famous and ancient universities in Australia. With the first-rate teaching and research level and services facilities, the university is selected as one of top 200 universities of the world by “The Times”.

Hobart is seated in Tasmania, which is a large island in the southeast of Australia, 240 kilometers off the Australian mainland. With breath-taking landscape, pleasant weather, simple folkway and friendly people, the Island of Tasmania is praised as a heaven having the freshest air, the bluest sky, the best seashore and the most beautiful cities.