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| | | | Darwin is situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 120,900, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities. It is the smallest and most northerly of the Australian capital cities, and acts as the Top End's regional centre.
Over time Darwin has grown from a pioneer outpost and small port into one of Australia's most modern and multicultural cities. Its proximity to Asia makes it an important Australian gateway to countries such as Indonesia and East Timor. The Stuart Highway begins in Darwin, ending at Port Augusta in South Australia.
The city itself is built on a low bluff overlooking the harbor. Its suburbs spread out over some area, beginning at Lee Point in the north and stretching to Berrimah in the east – past Berrimah, the Stuart Highway goes on to Darwin's satellite city, Palmerston, and its suburb.
The region, like the rest of the Top End, has a tropical climate, with a wet season and a dry season. It receives heavy rainfall during the Wet, and is well-known for its spectacular lightning.
The original inhabitants of the greater Darwin area are the Larrakia people. On 9 September 1839, HMS Beagle sailed into Darwin harbor during its surveying of the area. John Clements Wickham named the region "Port Darwin" in honour of a former shipmate and famed scientist Charles Darwin.
DARWIN has almost been entirely rebuilt twice, once due to Japanese air raids during World War II and again after being devastated by Cyclone Tracy in 1974, the city is one of Australia's most modern capitals. The Northern Territory Federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions. It shares borders with Western Australia to the west, South Australia to the south, and Queensland to the east. To the north, the territory is bordered by the Timor Sea, the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria. Despite its large area over 1,349,129 square kilometres (520,902 sq mi), making it the third largest Australian federal division — it is sparsely populated. With a population of 221,100[2] it is the least populous division on the mainland.
The history of the Northern Territory began over 40,000 years ago when Indigenous Australians settled the region. Makassan traders began trading with the indigenous people of the Northern Territory for trepang from at least the 18th century onwards, and very likely for 300 years prior to that, while the coast of the territory was first seen by Europeans in the 17th century. The British were the first to attempt to settle the coastal regions in the 19th century; however no attempt was successful until the establishment of a settlement at Port Darwin in 1869. Today the economy is based on tourism, especially Kakadu National Park in the Top End and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Ayers Rock) in central Australia, and mining.
The population is not concentrated in coastal regions but rather along the Stuart Highway. The other major settlements are Katherine, Alice Springs,( The home of Ayers rock and camel races. Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy in the territory's north-east.Residents of the Northern Territory are often known simply as 'Territorians'
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| | | | AYERS ROCK, Alice Springs, NA This Monolith sitting in the middle of a flat desert, takes up a redish tint in the evening hours and is quite a sight to see.Tourist's are allowed to climb up a roped pathway, the climb up does require a physically fit climber.The view from the top is spectacular and the experience of a lifetime |
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| | | A panorama of Alice Springs, one can reach Alice Springs by Air in comfort or a long drive through the Outback in a leasurely but very dusty way.There are excellant Hotels in Alice Springs. I stayed in the Sheraton , excellent.Distances are great , consider that Alice Springs lies exactly between Adelaide and Darwin.. |
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Iis located within the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It covers an area of 1,980,400 ha (4,894,000 acres), extending nearly 200 kilometers from north to south and over 100 kilometers from east to west. It is the size of Israel, about one-third the size of Tasmania, or nearly half the size of Switzerland. The Ranger Uranium Mine, one of the most productive Uranium mines in the world, is contained within the park
The name Kakadu comes from the mispronunciation of 'Gagudju' which is the name of an Aboriginal language spoken in the northern part of the Park. Kakadu is ecologically and biologically diverse. The main natural features protected within the Park include:
•four major river systems: the East Alligator River, the West Alligator River, the Wildman River and the entire South Alligator River; w
•six major landforms ,estuaries and tidal flats, floodplains, lolands, the stone country, the outliers and the southern hills and basins;
•a remarkable variety and concentration of wildlife; over 280 bird species over 60 mammal species over 50 freshwater species over 10 000 insects species over 1600 plant species. Aboriginal people have occupied the Kakadu area continuously for at least 40 000 years. Kakadu National Park is renowned for the richness of its Aboriginal cultural sites. There are more than 5000 recorded art sites illustrating Aboriginal culture over thousands of years. The archaeological sites demonstrate Aboriginal occupation for at least 20 000 and possibly up to 40 000 years.
RIVERS The East Alligator River is approximately 160 kilometers long. After rising in the northern part of the Arnhem Land Plateau, it flows with tributary streams towards the northwest through magnificent canyons towards the Van Diemen Gulf which it meets at PointFarewell.
The South Alligator River is also about 160 kilometers long. It rises north of Mount Stow also on the Arnhem Land plateau. It flows northwesterly in a valley containing a number of disused uranium mines developed between 1955 and 1965. It also finishes in the Van Diemen Gulf of the Timor Sea.
The West Alligator River rises in the lowlands and is 80 kilometers long. The Wildman River also flows in the region. The river system has a number of spectacular waterfalls including the Jim Jim Falls on Jim Jim Creek and the Twin Falls on Twin Falls Creek.
The rivers have created the alluvial plains including the mangrove swamp in the past 20,000 years. |
| | | CLIMAT, Like much of northern Australia, the Alligator Rivers region has a monsoon climate. The dry season lasts between May and September while the wet season lasts between November and March. April and October are transitional periods between the two seasons. Annual rainfall at Jabiru is approximately 1540 mm with almost all of it falling during the wet season. During the wet season, the prevailing winds are westerly to north-westerly while they are easterly to south-easterly during the dry season.
The three Alligator Rivers are perennial rivers flowing even during the dry season as is the Wildman River. All of the tributaries dry up in places during that period. The land dries out, and the wildlife concentrates around the permanent water sources such as the rivers, springs, waterholes and billabongs. The duration of the dry period depends on the rainfall during the wet season. In a normal year, the tributaries will start flowing around the middle of December and finish at the end of June, but the flow will start in November and finish in August if the rainfall has been particularly heavy.
During the wet season, the savanna turns green, the wildlife spreads out, the bird life returns and the streams flood into adjacent lands turning them into swamps. The flood plains leave behind silt when they gradually dry up during the wet season.
During the wet season, the water has a higher temperature and is relatively low in turbidity. In the dry season, there is an increase in turbidity especially in the shallower water sources.
The Alligator Rivers Region is also subject to cyclones between October and May like other parts of the Australian Indian Southeast region.
Kakadu National Park, Wildlife
The region takes its name from the salt and fresh water crocodiles in the lower reaches of the rivers. However, the region features a wide diversity of plant and animal habitats. More than 1500 species of plants have been recorded in a range of tropical habitats including mangrove, monsoon forest, tropical grassland and woodland. There are 46 species of fish in the river system representing approximately a quarter of all known species existing in Australia.
The region also features a wide variety of birdlife with over one in three species of Australia's species having been sighted in the region. In particular, the Alligator Rivers area is known for its rich collection of waterfowl such as magpie geese, herons, ibises and spoonbills.
The region also features high populations of the dusky rat and its predator the water python. New vertebrate species are still being discovered in the region notably the Kakadu dunnart and the Kakadu Pebble-mound Mouse. The potential for discovery of invertebrate species such as ants is even greater.
There is some threat to the ecosystems from introduced flora and fauna. Introduced speeies of plant such as the giant sensitive plant and Mission grass are threatening habitats. Pest species such as feral water buffalo and Cane Toads are also causing problems. Aboriginal Heritage
Aboriginal people have lived continuously in the Alligator Rivers Region for 50,000 years. The region accordingly has a rich heritage with cave paintings and rock carvings common with over 1500 sites. Many aboriginal artifacts have been found in old camping grounds in the region.
The southern part of Kakadu contain a number of sites relating to Bula a god associated with creation and these sites are considered to be both sacred and dangerous to the aboriginal people because of this association. There is also art relating to contact with Makassan traders and Europeans.
At Ubirr Rock near Cahill's Crossing on the East Alligator River, there are paintings dating from 20,000 years ago with figures throwing spears and wearing headdresses to first contact with European settlement.
The Gagudju people live in the area between the East and South Alligator Rivers. They share responsibility for Kakadu National Park which lies within their country. Gunbalunya (formerly Oenpelli), a settlement in the area, is run by an Aboriginal council and is an important centre for arts and crafts. The Gagudju language is no longer widely spoken but was common up until the early twentieth century.
The Jawoyn people live in the South Alligator and South Mary regions as well as around Katherine. The Jawoyn negotiated an agreement in 1993 for the Coronation Hill uranium mine where they would allow further exploration of the area in return for employment and training for the Jawoyn and a partnership arrangement.
The Gunwinggu people live between the Liverpool River and the East Alligator River. Traditional beliefs remain important to the Gunwinggu with Ngalyod, the Rainbow Serpent playing an important part in their art and traditions. The Gunwinggu have received royalties from the Nabarlek Uranium Mine in recent years. The Gunwinggu live in Gunbalunya and Maningrida. |
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| | | A beautiful panorama shot of the KaKaDu (If you du, not here please),When you visit, you most likely will return time and again. This natural environment is definitely what dreams are made of. Raw untouched nature.Besides most natives are friendly! Come and Walk About! Just do it! |
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