Victoria is Australia's smallest mainland state in terms of area and is situated in the south-eastern corner of the continent. As of the 2001 census, the population was 4 644 950.
Victoria shares the Murray River as a border with New South Wales to its north and a border with South Australia to the west. In this space are topographically, geologically and climatically diverse areas ranging from the wet, temperate climate of Gippsland in the southeast to the snow-covered Victorian alpine areas which rise to almost 2000 m (with Mount Bogong the highest peak at 1986 m) and extensive semi-arid plains to the west and north-west.
The state's capital, Melbourne, contains approximately 70% of the state's population and dominates its economy, media, and culture.
Outside the manufacturing and service centre of Melbourne, agriculture dominates the Victorian economy, with its comparatively rich soils and temperature and wet climates compared to the rest of Australia. Major export agricultural activities include beef and dairy cattle, wool and lamb production and wheat (primarily in the drier western half of the state), with
irrigated fruit and vegetable growers around Melbourne and along the Murray River. Wine grape production grew rapidly during the 1990s.
