Northern Territory, Australia
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In Australia’s northern half, lies the Northern Territory, which shares its borders with Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland. Famous for Uluru (Ayers Rock), a sacred site for the Anangu Nation, the Territory also has stunning beaches and islands up north.
Spanning from the centre of Australia towards the north, this territory features different climates. It is largely tropical in the north and semiarid in the south, allowing for a variety of flora and fauna.
The Northern Territory had limited legislative powers in comparison to its neighbouring states until self-government was granted in 1978. However, differences in office titles remain. For example, there is a Chief Minister instead of a Premier.
Most of the Territory’s economy lies in government administration, defence and other public services. While other industries, such as agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for a small proportion of the territory’s overall economy. . In fact, given its strategic location, its capital, Darwin, is an important base for Australian Defence Force including the Navy, Army and Air Force, as well as being the site for defence communications.
Complementing these industries is the recent production from onshore and offshore petroleum and natural gas reserves. Moreover, tourism has been an expanding industry in recent years, owing to the territory’s distinguished natural environment and Aboriginal Australian heritage.
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Quick facts
It is thought that the bulk of the Uluru (Ayers Rock) is underground, extending down 2.5 kilometres below the surface. As a result, what can be seen is actually a much smaller proportion of the rock, functioning as a ‘land iceberg’.
Northern Territory accounts for 20% of Australia’s landmass, despite being home to only 1% of the country’s population.
The Finke River, located in NT, is the oldest river system in the world, with parts possibly dating as far back as 340 million years.
Photo by Vladimir Haltakov on Unsplash