2004 marked Tasmania's 200th anniversary of its settlements by Europeans and this uniquely beautiful island - usually referred to by Australians as 'Tassie' - has since been rediscovered. Tasmania is Australia's second oldest and also its smallest state with a population of 473,000. In 1803 British convicts formed part of the first groups of settlers sent to establish a foothold on the island that was then home to aborigines. Conflict was inevitable and the aborigines were soon systematically exterminated; British styles and customs dominate social life on the island to this day. Known as a remote wilderness destination, about one quarter of Tasmania is contained in national parks, and most of this has world heritage status. It is a place of great contrasts: much of the interior consists of lush rainforests and rugged mountain ranges, whereas the Tasman Peninsula in the south is known for its spectacular sea cliffs. Even the agricultural landscape has a distinctive natural beauty. However, past environmental decisions have left deep scars; controlled forest fires to replace indigenous growth with fast growing timber is endangering the ecology and exploitative mining of gold and copper has left deep eroded gullies and multicolored naked hills near Queenstown. The Tasmania story was first published in GEO Germany, August 2005. This selection of images consists of both published and unpublished images from the original story.