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The southwest of Tasmania is rugged, wet, unihabited and inaccessable. Massive hydro-electric dams have been built and the hydro-electric town of Strathgordon established west of Hobart. On the mid-west coast is the peaceful and beautiful fishing town of Strahan. From Strahan many visitors get a glimpse of the World Heriatge Listed forests of the wild southwest by taking a day cruise (around $50) up the Gordon or lower Franklin Rivers. The drive to Strahan from Hobert takes you along the Derwent River valley through the small historic towns of New Norfolk and Hamilton. When approaching Strahan you will pass through the former copper and gold moning town of Queenstown. The desolate hills surrounding Queenstown are an example of the lasting devastation poor mining practices can cause. Most trees were cut down to fuel the mining smelters, the rest died from pollution from the smelters and the heavy rains in the region washed away the topsoil leaving eroded grey muddy hillsides. Revegetation is impossible. The grey heavily sedimented river through Queenstown is polluted with mercury. The contrast with the tranquility of the Gordon and Lower Franklin Rivers could not be more marked. Zeehan on the other hand is an attrative historic mining town
a little way north of Strahan.
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OTHER AUSTRALIAN STATES AND TERRITORIES Victoria - Queensland - New SSouth Wales - Northern Territory - South Australia - Western Australia |
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