South Australia: State of Australia

The capital city is Adelaide.

South Australia is in the southern central part of the country. It is one of the driest parts of the continent. South Australia gets very little rain.

The state has a total land area of 984,377 km² (380,070 sq mi). It is the fourth largest of Australia's states and territories. In 2006 there were 1,554,397 people living in South Australia.

• The floral emblem of South Australia is Sturt's Desert Pea, Swainsona formosa. It was made the emblem on November 23, 1961.
• The faunal emblem is the Hairy-Nosed or Plains Wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons). It was chosen on 27 August 1970.
• The marine emblem is the Leafy Seadragon (Phycodurus eques). It as chosen on 8 February 2001.
• The gemstone emblem of South Australia is the opal. This was chosen on the 15 August 1985.
• The official badge of South Australia is the Piping Shrike or White Backed Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen leuconota). It was chosen on 14 January 1904.

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  Sturt's Desert Pea
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  The Hairy-Nosed Wombat
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  Leafy Seadragon
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  Opal
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  White Backed Magpie

South Australia was a freely-settled, planned British province. Settlement began on December 28, 1836. This was when the state was proclaimed at The Old Gum Tree by Governor Hindmarsh. The aim was to create the province as a center of civilization for free immigrants, promising civil liberties and religious tolerance.

The state is known for its festivals and fine wine.

The highest temperature recorded was 50.7°C at Oodnadatta on 2 January 1960. The coldest temperature recorded was -8.2°C at Yongala on 20 July 1976. The highest rainfall recorded was 272.6 mm at Motpena on 14 March 1989.