'''Victoria''' is [[Australia]]'s southernmost and geographically smallest mainland state, in the south-eastern corner. Population 4,644,950 (census 2001). Sharing the [[Murray River]] as a border with [[New South Wales]] to its north, and a border with South Australia to the west, it covers an area considerably larger than the [[British Isles]]. 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 metres, (with [[Mount Bogong]] the highest peak at 1986 metres), and extensive semi-arid plains to the west and north-west.
The state's capital, [[Melbourne, Australia|Melbourne]], contains approximately 70% of the state's population and dominates its economy, media, and culture.
