South Australia is located in the southern part of the continent, towards the central region. The majority of the state experiences arid weather. SA is rated the fourth largest among six states and two territories of Australia. Adelaide is the capital of the state, bearing majority of the state’s population. The south – eastern coast which is fertile and the region surrounding River Murray have also attracted residents in the state. The state is well-known for its many festivals and quality wine.
Due to its central location, South Australia is bordered by all the mainland states as well as the Northern Territory of Australia. While Western Australia lies to its west, New South Wales lies to the east of the state. In the north, the state shares its border with the Northern Territory, while in the south lie the Great Australian Bight and the Indian Ocean. Further, the state of Queensland lies in the north-east direction, while Victoria is located in the south-east. There are several low mountain ranges in South Australia. The most notable among these are the Mount Lofty-Flinders Ranges system. It extends from Cape Jervis to the northern end of Lake Torrens for about 800 kilometres.
The Southern part of the state experiences typical Mediterranean type of climate. The primary industries in the state include wheat, wine and wool, which are also exported. The wine produced in South Australia constitutes more than half of the total wine produced in the entire country. The popular wine regions in the state include Clare Valley, Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, Riverland and Adelaide Hills.
The manufacturing industry is a key industry in SA, accounting for 15% of the state's Gross State Product. Manufacturing is centred on automotive, pharmaceuticals, defence technology, component manufacturing and electronic systems. Manufactured items are also exported.
The economy of the state is dependent on exports to a large extent. Each year, South Australia earns about AUD$10 billion through its various business exports. Federal funding is limited in the state, for the purpose of developing the road networks. The economic growth in the state has been slow, when compared to other states in the continent.
The state holds significance due to its large reserves of Uranium. The Olympic Dam mine, located in South Australia contains the single largest known deposit of uranium on earth. About 40% of the known uranium reserves in the world is located at the dam. The dam also holds the distinction of having the fourth-largest copper deposit in the world. The dam is also known for its vast gold reserves.
The South Australian food and drink industry is worth $10 billion. It includes agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, horticulture, and manufacturing. Other major industries include meat and meat preparations, wool, wine, wheat, machinery, sheepskins, metal and metal manufactures, road vehicles and parts, fish and crustaceans, apart from petroleum products. Defence technology and education are gaining importance in SA’s economy. There was a 80% growth in Private Residential Building Approvals in the year 2006.