Separated from the mainland of Australia by the Bass Strait, the island state of Tasmania lies about 150 miles (240 km) south of Victoria. Tasmania also includes many of the surrounding, offshore islands. Tasmania is Australia’s most heavily forested (darker landscape) and least populated state (less than 500000 people). Over 40 percent of the island is protected as World Heritage Sites, National Parks, or private forest reserves. Mountains in the west are covered by rainforest while the central plateau of the state has hundreds of lakes (very dark features). Rainfall amounts generally decrease west to east. Notice in this image that a large area of cloudiness is just off of the west coast. Several large bays are visible around the periphery of the island; including Macquaric Harbor (central west coast), Great Oyster Bay (central east coast), and Storm Bay (along southeast coast). Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, is located at the northwest end of Storm Bay. A smoke plume is visible in the center of the central plateau.