New South Wales | Flag, Facts, Maps, & Points of Interest

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data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-South-Wales">New South Wales</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/New-South-Wales">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref284913"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales#ref284913">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42465"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales#ref42465">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42466"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales#ref42466">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42467"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Soils">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42468"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Soils#ref42468">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42469"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Soils#ref42469">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref42471"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/People">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42472"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/People#ref42472">Population composition</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42470"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/People#ref42470">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42473"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/People#ref42473">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref42474"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Economy">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42476"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Economy#ref42476">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42475"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Economy#ref42475">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42477"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Economy#ref42477">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref298138"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Services-labour-and-taxation">Services, labour, and taxation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42478"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Services-labour-and-taxation#ref42478">Transportation</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref42479"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42480"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Government-and-society#ref42480">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42482"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Government-and-society#ref42482">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42481"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Government-and-society#ref42481">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref42483"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Cultural-life">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref298139"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Cultural-life#ref298139">The arts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref298140"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Cultural-life#ref298140">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref298141"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Sports-and-recreation">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref298142"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Sports-and-recreation#ref298142">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref42484"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42485"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/History#ref42485">Prehistory and early British settlement</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42486"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/The-growth-of-a-free-society">The growth of a free society</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42487"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/The-growth-of-a-free-society#ref42487">Movement toward self-rule</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42488"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Economic-developments">Economic developments</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42489"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/Federation">Federation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42490"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-South-Wales/The-postwar-period">The postwar period</a></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-South-Wales/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/New-South-Wales">Facts & Stats</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-South-Wales/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/2976-050-054E09B1/Flag-New-South-Wales.jpg" 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Jeans</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Associate Professor of Geography, University of Sydney. Author of <i>The Open Air Museum: The Cultural Landscape of New South Wales; </i>editor of <i>Australia: A Geography (</i>2 vol.<i>).</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> D.N. Jeans</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Nicholas-Brown/7964502" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Nicholas Brown</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Senior Research Fellow, Australian National University. Author of <em>Richard Downing: Economics, Advocacy and Social Reform in Australia</em> (2001); coeditor of <em>Managing Diversity: Practices of Citizenship</em>...</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Nicholas Brown</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-South-Wales/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-12T00:00:00CST" >Nov 12, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-South-Wales/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/22/clearly-an-industry-win-concern-over-leaked-classified-document-on-nsw-pokies-reform" rel="nofollow">‘Clearly an industry win’: concern over leaked classified document on NSW pokies reform</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 21, 2024, 10:42 PM ET (The Guardian) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/22/nsw-goverment-biodiversity-offset-scheme-minns-government" rel="nofollow">NSW government passes bill to repair ‘broken’ biodiversity offset scheme</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 21, 2024, 6:40 PM ET (The Guardian) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/nov/22/australia-news-live-climate-protestival-newcastle-harbour-immigration-deportation-bill-domestic-violence-housing-cost-of-living-energy-economy" rel="nofollow">Australia news live: Penny Wong says Australia ‘respects the independence’ of ICC after Netanyahu arrest warrant; heatwave coming to Victoria and NSW</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 21, 2024, 11:38 AM ET (The Guardian) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/21/australia-weather-forecast-bom-heatwave-alert-queensland-flooding" rel="nofollow">Weekend heatwave forecast for NSW and Victoria, with temperatures to top 36C in Melbourne</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 21, 2024, 6:57 AM ET (The Guardian) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/21/chaotic-sydney-train-shutdown-averted-after-eleventh-hour-crisis-talks-with-union" rel="nofollow">Sydney train strike: chaotic shutdown averted after 11th-hour crisis talks with union</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 21, 2024, 2:27 AM ET (The Guardian) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="100220" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/94447-050-3AB6EB7F/Sydney-Austl.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/412057/100220"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/94447-050-3AB6EB7F/Sydney-Austl.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/94447-050-3AB6EB7F/Sydney-Austl.jpg?w=300" alt="Sydney" data-width="1600" data-height="1056" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/94447-050-3AB6EB7F/Sydney-Austl.jpg" data-href="/media/1/412057/100220">Sydney</a><span>Sydney, Australia.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="227716" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/93/195693-050-9402618B/New-South-Wales-Australia.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/412057/227716"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/93/195693-050-9402618B/New-South-Wales-Australia.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/93/195693-050-9402618B/New-South-Wales-Australia.jpg?w=300" alt="New South Wales" data-width="1600" data-height="1173" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/93/195693-050-9402618B/New-South-Wales-Australia.jpg" data-href="/media/1/412057/227716">New South Wales</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref484703"></span>New South Wales</strong>, state of southeastern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Australia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Australia</a>, occupying both coastal mountains and interior tablelands. It is bounded by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pacific Ocean</a> to the east and the states of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Victoria-state-Australia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Victoria</a> to the south, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Australia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">South Australia</a> to the west, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Queensland-state-Australia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Queensland</a> to the north. New South Wales also includes <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lord-Howe-Island" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lord Howe Island</a>, 360 miles (580 km) east of the continent. The state capital is <span id="ref475525"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sydney-New-South-Wales" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sydney</a>, the country’s largest city.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="146785" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/115783-050-CA1AFF28/Lord-Howe-Island-Gower-Mounts-Lidgbird-Austl.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/412057/146785"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/115783-050-CA1AFF28/Lord-Howe-Island-Gower-Mounts-Lidgbird-Austl.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/115783-050-CA1AFF28/Lord-Howe-Island-Gower-Mounts-Lidgbird-Austl.jpg?w=300" alt="Lord Howe Island, with (background) Mounts Lidgbird and Gower, New South Wales, Austl." data-width="1600" data-height="1067" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/115783-050-CA1AFF28/Lord-Howe-Island-Gower-Mounts-Lidgbird-Austl.jpg" data-href="/media/1/412057/146785">Lord Howe Island, with (background) Mounts Lidgbird and Gower, New South Wales, Austl.</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The site of the first British settlement in Australia in 1788, New South Wales is today the most populous and, after Victoria, the most industrialized state in the Commonwealth of Australia. Originally the name New South Wales was applied to all territory east of longitude 135° E. The colonies of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tasmania" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tasmania</a>, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland were successively carved out of its territory in the 19th century. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Australian-Capital-Territory" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Australian Capital Territory</a> at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Canberra" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Canberra</a> was ceded to the Commonwealth government in 1911, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Jervis-Bay" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Jervis Bay</a> enclave on the Pacific coast was similarly ceded in 1915 to provide a port for Canberra.</p><div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="m-n10 "> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 media-slider card-snap-slider col-100"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex col-100"> <div class="rw-track w-100"> <div class="pt-10 d-inline-flex col-100"> <div class="w-100"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/2976-050-054E09B1/Flag-New-South-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/412057/61537" class="media-overlay-link card-media d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center px-20" > <div class="position-relative"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/2976-050-054E09B1/Flag-New-South-Wales.jpg" alt="flag of New South Wales" class="cropped-false w-100 " /> <em class="material-icons qf-zoom" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <div class="card-body text-center pt-5 pb-10 font-14"> <span>See article: <a href="/topic/flag-of-New-South-Wales">flag of New South Wales</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Capital: </dt> <dd><a href="/place/Sydney-New-South-Wales">Sydney</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population : </dt> <dd>(2021) 8,072,163</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Date Of Admission: </dt> <dd>1901</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>State Bird: </dt> <dd><a href="/animal/kookaburra">kookaburra</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>State Flower: </dt> <dd>waratah</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Seats In Federal House Of Representatives: </dt> <dd>48 (of 150)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Time Zone<Sup>2</Sup>: </dt> <dd>Australian Eastern Standard Time (GMT + 10)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Premier: </dt> <dd>Chris Minns (Labor Party)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area<Sup>1</Sup> (Sq Km): </dt> <dd>800,642</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area<Sup>1</Sup> (Sq Mi): </dt> <dd>309,130</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="footnotes mb-15"> <ol> <li>Mainland and island areas only; excludes coastal water.</li> <li>Except Broken Hill (Australian Central Standard Time, GMT + 9:30) and Lord Howe Island (Lord Howe Island Standard Time, GMT + 10:30).</li> </ol> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/New-South-Wales"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Although it is by no means the largest Australian state in area, New South Wales has the largest economy among them and, in its <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="demographic" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demographic" data-type="MW">demographic</a>, political, and economic variety, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="constitutes" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitutes" data-type="MW">constitutes</a> a microcosm of Australia as a whole. It reflects the problems of a semiperipheral country adjusting to changes in the world economy. Its formerly <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="robust" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robust" data-type="MW">robust</a> manufacturing base adjusted to competition from cheaper and better products from overseas, with heavier industries being replaced by the production of elaborately transformed goods. The state’s rural industries similarly faced world oversupply and declining prices for once-staple pastoral and agricultural exports—such as wool, wheat, dairy, and meat—and sought to develop more <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diverse" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diverse" data-type="MW">diverse</a> crops and specialized markets, often with considerable success. Unemployment levels run relatively high, often above the national average and marked by considerable regional variations. The expansion of the property, financial, and business sectors accounts for much employment growth from the 1990s onward, and fluctuations in those areas similarly have an impact on the economic trends of the state overall. Rapidly expanding international tourism stimulated extensive development in services, although it has heightened vulnerability to global economic downturns, and the impact of large numbers of tourist arrivals placed strains on facilities and the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="environment" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environment" data-type="MW">environment</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Since the turn of the 21st century, the population of New South Wales has grown more slowly relative to most other Australian states, reflecting the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="dynamics" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dynamics" data-type="MW">dynamics</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/economic-growth" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">economic growth</a> across the country. While most of the state’s population lives in the cities—and the great majority in Sydney—a pattern of new settlement is evident in regional centres, most often on the coast. Such settlement is driven by the greater presence of amenities in those areas, although it is also associated with concern about the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="degradation" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degradation" data-type="MW">degradation</a> of the land resources of the state.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">As in all the Australian states, the considerable <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="autonomy" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autonomy" data-type="MW">autonomy</a> of the state government under the terms of Australian federation in 1901 has been—especially since the 1940s—steadily limited by Commonwealth government control of the collection and expenditure of public moneys. More recently, there has been pressure to achieve greater levels of national coordination in the provision of health care, education, and the management of environmental resources and to outsource the provision of services once provided by public agencies. Even with those changes, New South Wales—by virtue of its history, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diversity" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity" data-type="MW">diversity</a>, and economy—exerts considerable influence over the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="culture" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture" data-type="MW">culture</a> and prosperity of Australia and over international perceptions of Australian society and identity. Area 309,130 square miles (800,642 square km). Population (2021) 8,072,163.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/australian-vocabulary-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/251681-131-E930042A/graduation-cap-flag-Australia-speech-bubble.jpg" alt="Graduation cap sitting over a speech bubble with an Australian flag on a blue background. (education)" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Australian Vocabulary Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref284913"><h2 class="h1">Land</h2> <section data-level="2" id="ref42465"><h2 class="h2">Relief</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="146118" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/42/129342-050-7ADB0319/features-New-South-Wales.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/412057/146118"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/42/129342-050-7ADB0319/features-New-South-Wales.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/42/129342-050-7ADB0319/features-New-South-Wales.jpg?w=300" alt="Physical features of New South Wales." data-width="1600" data-height="1359" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/42/129342-050-7ADB0319/features-New-South-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/412057/146118">Physical features of New South Wales.</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="139843" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/137109-050-077DD0A2/slopes-Mount-Kosciuszko-Australia-New-South-Wales.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/412057/139843"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/137109-050-077DD0A2/slopes-Mount-Kosciuszko-Australia-New-South-Wales.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/137109-050-077DD0A2/slopes-Mount-Kosciuszko-Australia-New-South-Wales.jpg?w=300" alt="Mount Kosciuszko, New South Wales, Australia" data-width="1600" data-height="1200" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/137109-050-077DD0A2/slopes-Mount-Kosciuszko-Australia-New-South-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/412057/139843">Mount Kosciuszko, New South Wales, Australia</a><span>Icy slopes of Mount Kosciuszko in winter, New South Wales, Australia.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">A narrow coastal strip of fertile river valleys, plains, and granite outcrops is bounded to the north by a series of plateaus stretching from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-England-Range" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">New England Range</a>, to the west by steep gorges and ascents leading up to the <span id="ref475520"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/tableland" class="md-crosslink ">tableland</a>, to the south and west by the central and southern tablelands, and to the south by the Monaro plateau. To the west of Monaro lie the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Snowy-Mountains" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Snowy Mountains</a>, including the Kosciuszko massif, which rises to 7,310 feet (2,228 metres) in <span id="ref475521"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Kosciuszko" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mount Kosciuszko</a>, the highest mountain in Australia. The general elevation of the tableland is 2,500 feet (760 metres), high enough to provide severe winters and snow. Except in the south, the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="descent" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/descent" data-type="EB">descent</a> to the inland slopes is gentle, providing a zone of undulating land intersected by rivers that have their origins in the tablelands. In the west are the semiarid plains, composed of colluvial material, with bedrock exposed in some areas, as in the Barrier Ranges. The far northwest of the state includes dune fields, and there is much sandy <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mallee-vegetation" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mallee</a> country in the south that is very marginal for agricultural activity.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref42466"><h2 class="h2">Drainage</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="11901" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/75/10875-004-CA50DB44/Cattle-Hunter-River-New-South-Wales.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/412057/11901"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/75/10875-004-CA50DB44/Cattle-Hunter-River-New-South-Wales.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/75/10875-004-CA50DB44/Cattle-Hunter-River-New-South-Wales.jpg?w=300" alt="Hunter River" data-width="206" data-height="300" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/75/10875-004-CA50DB44/Cattle-Hunter-River-New-South-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/412057/11901">Hunter River</a><span>Cattle crossing the Hunter River, New South Wales.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The coastal rivers carry vast quantities of water to the ocean, supplied by the coastal region’s relatively high but variable rainfall. The rivers’ economic value lies in the fertile alluvial plains they have created. Unusual for Australia, the coast consists mainly of beaches of sand deposited by these rivers, such as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hunter-River-New-South-Wales" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hunter</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Clarence-River-New-South-Wales" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Clarence</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Shoalhaven-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Shoalhaven</a>.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="68650" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/74864-050-DBDD3227/Murray-River-Corowa-Australia-New-South-Wales.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/412057/68650"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/74864-050-DBDD3227/Murray-River-Corowa-Australia-New-South-Wales.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/74864-050-DBDD3227/Murray-River-Corowa-Australia-New-South-Wales.jpg?w=300" alt="Murray River, Corowa, New South Wales, Australia" data-width="1600" data-height="1200" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/74864-050-DBDD3227/Murray-River-Corowa-Australia-New-South-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/412057/68650">Murray River, Corowa, New South Wales, Australia</a><span>Murray River at Corowa, New South Wales, Australia.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The major rivers of the interior flow generally west from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Dividing-Range" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Great Dividing Range</a>. These include the Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lachlan-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lachlan</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Murrumbidgee-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Murrumbidgee rivers</a>, which, after crossing some 500 miles (800 km) of slopes and plains, join the <span id="ref475522"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Murray-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Murray</a> and the <span id="ref475523"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Darling-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Darling rivers</a>—which then meet at the town of Wentworth in the western part of the state. As the Murray, this river flows to the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Southern-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Southern Ocean</a> in South Australia. The Murray is also fed by winter rain from the tablelands and is <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="augmented" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/augmented" data-type="EB">augmented</a> in spring by snowmelt. The Darling rises in Queensland and is fed by summer monsoonal rains, thus having a different regime, and it exhibits dramatic variation in flow rate. Much water is lost by evaporation, but irrigation inland is made possible by these rivers. Between about one-half and four-fifths of the average annual flow in west-flowing rivers is captured by dams and weirs.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span></section> </section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":13,"pageId":412057,"pageLength":1002,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"STATE_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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New South Wales | Flag, Facts, Maps, & Points of Interest | Britannica