Northern Territory

I

Introduction

Northern Territory, territory in northern Australia, bordered on the northwest by the Timor Sea, on the north and northeast by the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria, on the east by the state of Queensland, on the west by the state of Western Australia, and on the south by the state of South Australia. The Northern Territory is the third largest land division in Australia, after Western Australia and Queensland, with an area of 1,346,200 sq km (519,770 sq mi), or 17.5 percent of Australia. The territory’s coastline measures 6200 km (3852 mi), and several islands fall within its boundaries. The capital of the Northern Territory is Darwin, on the northwestern coast.

II

Land and Resources

The Northern Territory is a region of tablelands (plateaus) that rise gradually from the coast to reach an average height of about 700 m (2300 ft). Within the tablelands are three distinct environments. A lowland coastal zone lies along the northern part of the territory and includes the Arnhem Land peninsula, the gulf country and offshore islands, and the northern part of the Barkly Tableland. A second, semiarid zone lies to the south, in the center of the territory, and includes the bulk of the Barkly Tableland, the central ranges, and the Tanami Desert. Much of this area is good pasture. The southern zone, which is generally sandy, is home to the monolith Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the domed rocks of Kata Tjuta (Olga Rocks), both in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park; the Macdonnell Ranges; and part of the Simpson Desert. Although the southern zone receives little rainfall, there is underground water, which can be reached through boreholes, or wells. Mount Zeil (1,510 m/4,955 ft), in the Macdonnell Ranges, is the Northern Territory’s highest peak. In general, the territory’s landscape can be divided into two main areas: “Red Center,” which describes the searing emptiness of the area around Alice Springs, and the “Top End,” which refers to the untamed tropics near the coast. Marsupials, crocodiles, snakes, water buffalo, and tropical birds are common. The main forms of vegetation are grasses, mangroves, and eucalyptus trees.

The climate, with its extreme variations, has a strong influence on living conditions in the territory. The coast has a tropical monsoonal climate, with annual rainfall of more than 1600 mm (63 in) in places. Darwin, lying in the path of tropical cyclones, has been destroyed five times by the storms. Its temperature ranges between 25° C (77° F) and 32° C (90° F) in January and between 16° C (61° F) and 33°C (91° F) in July. The climate becomes increasingly arid with distance from the coast; average rainfall in the interior is about 254 mm (10 in) a year. The wet season lasts from November to April. Temperatures at Alice Springs range from 21° C (70° F) to 36° C (97° F) during January and 6° C (43° F) to 23° C (73° F) during July.

III

The People of the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has a population (2004) of 199,913, including the largest concentration of Aboriginal Australians of any Australian state or territory. The native peoples, including Torres Strait Islanders, make up slightly more than 20 percent of the territory’s total population. Other than the Northern Territory, there are very few places left in Australia where Aboriginal people can live in self-contained communities and practice their traditional lifestyle. The territory also has one of the largest Asian populations, a reflection of its proximity to Southeast Asia.

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IV

Major Cities

Darwin and Alice Springs are the Northern Territory’s two major cities. Darwin is the territory’s principal port and largest city. It is also the smallest mainland capital (Hobart on Tasmania is smaller) and one of the fastest-growing Australian cities. Darwin has been rebuilt more times than any other capital, due to five tropical cyclones (1878, 1882, 1897, 1937, and 1974) and Japanese bombing during World War II (1939-1945). Alice Springs is a center for the surrounding mining and ranching districts, as well as a point of departure for tourists in the outback. Other important centers are the mining towns of Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy; Palmerston, a satellite town of Darwin; Yulara, the resort town serving Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park; and Katherine.

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