South Australia is one of the six states 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.[1]
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 highest temperature recorded was 50.7°C at Oodnadatta on 2 January 1960.[6] The coldest temperature recorded was -8.2°C at Yongala on 20 July 1976.[6] The highest rainfall recorded was 272.6 mm at Motpena on 14 March 1989.[6]