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A National Park is a large natural area of land containing a representative or outstanding sample of major natural regions, features or scenery.
(Source: National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970)
The aims of declaring an area a National Park include:
- conserving natural biological diversity
- conserving geological diversity
- preserving the quality of water and protecting catchments
- conserving sites or areas of cultural significance
- encouraging education based on the purpose of reservation and the natural or cultural values of the National Park
- encouraging research, particularly that which furthers the purpose of reservation
- protecting against, and rehabilitating from impacts such as fire, introduced species, disease and soil erosion
- encouraging and providing for tourism and recreational use
- preserving the natural, primitive and remote character of wilderness areas.
The total area of the 19 National Parks is 1,430,762 hectares, or about 21% of Tasmania's area.
(Source: Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment.)
NATIONAL PARKS, Tasmania
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Name | Area (ha) | Year
gazetted |  | Location |  | Description |
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Ben Lomond | 18,192 | 1947 |  | North-east |  | Alpine, skifields |
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair(a) | 161,204 | 1922 |  | West central |  | Mountains, lakes |
Douglas Apsley | 16,086 | 1989 |  | East coast |  | Dry schlerophyll forest |
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers(a) | 446,342 | 1939 |  | South-west |  | Wilderness, rivers |
Freycinet | 16,803 | 1916 |  | East coast |  | Coastal, granite |
Hartz Mountains(a) | 7,140 | 1939 |  | South |  | Mountains, forest |
Kent Group | 2,374 | 2001 |  | North-east |  | Wildlife, coastal |
Maria Island | 11,550 | 1972 |  | East coast |  | Wildlife, historic |
Mole Creek Karst(a)(b) | 1,345 | 1996 |  | Central North |  | Caves, karst landscape |
Mount Field | 15,881 | 1916 |  | South central |  | Alpine, skifields |
Mount William | 18,439 | 1973 |  | North-east |  | Coastal, wildlife |
Narawntapu (formerly Asbestos Range) | 4,349 | 1976 |  | North coast |  | Coastal heathland |
Rocky Cape | 3,064 | 1967 |  | North-west |  | Coastal heath |
Savage River | 17,980 | 1999 |  | North-west |  | Wilderness, rainforest |
South Bruny | 5,059 | 1997 |  | South-east |  | Coastal, heath |
Southwest(a) | 618,190 | 1951 |  | South-west |  | Rugged wilderness |
Strzelecki | 4,215 | 1967 |  | Flinders Island |  | Mountains, coastal |
Tasman | 10,750 | 1917 |  | Tasman Peninsula |  | Dry schlerophyll forest, scenic |
Walls of Jerusalem(a) | 51,800 | 1981 |  | West central |  | Alpine plateau |
(a) Constitute Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, from 12.12.82, extended 15.12.89. Includes part of Mole Creek Karst.
(b) Gazetted as a series of State Reserves in 1939. The National Park was established in 1996, derived from the existing State Reserves.
Source: Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (National Parks listing).
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The Kent Group is Tasmania's newest National Park. Information about the Kent Group can be found on the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service web site at http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.html
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