The Northern Territory (NT) is a territory—not a state—in the central northern region of Australia. The land, much of it semi-arid scrubland or desert, is sparsely populated, with a population less than half that of Tasmania (whose area is just 5% that of the Northern Territory). More than half of Territorians live in Darwin, located on the north coast (Top End). The only other settlements line the Stuart Highway, the road connecting Darwin with Adelaide, South Australia.

Geography

Just inland from the coast, fringed with mangrove swamps, the Top End is largely a flat region, covered with tropical savanna—grassland mixed with eucalyptus trees. There are also patches of rainforest. A rugged sandstone plateau rises in Arnhem Land to the east, which is cut through with gorges and edged by a steep escarpment. Much of this area lies within Kakadu National Park, an area which also encompasses extensive wetlands rich with wildlife.

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To the south, the savanna merges into the grassy plains of the Barkly Tableland, used for cattle grazing, and, further west and south, semi-arid scrubland plains and sandy desert of the Australian Outback—sometimes called the Red Centre, after the colour of the soil. Across this landscape roam significant numbers of feral camels, which do severe damage to, among other things, fencing and Aboriginal religious sites. Also in this region are the low mountains and gorges of the MacDonnell Ranges.

Aboriginal Australians

More than a quarter of the population of Northern Territory, around 58,000 people, are Aboriginal Australians. Collectively, Aboriginals own around half of the land area of the Territory—chiefly, Arnhem Land and, further south the region to the west of the Stuart Highway. There are Aboriginal communities in many parts of the territory, the largest ones being the Pitjantjatjara near Uluru, the Arrernte and Luritja near Alice Springs, and the Yolngu in eastern Arnhem Land. There are more than 100 Aboriginal languages and dialects spoken in the Northern Territory.
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Some Aboriginal Australians live in outstations, small, often remote, towns with basic facilities and which are closed to outsiders. In comparison with the wider Australian population, they suffer more from the social problems that come with unemployment, a lack of education and poverty.

Mining

The Northern Territory's economy is largely driven by the production of oil and gas, and mining—bauxite at Gove Peninsula, manganese at Groote Eylandt, gold at the Union Reefs plant and uranium at Ranger Uranium Mine.

Tourism is also an important industry in the Northern Territory. It has two spectacular natural rock formations, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), which are sacred to the local Aboriginal peoples, and which have become major tourist attractions.

​​​​​​​Northern Territory's many national parks are also a major draw. Another popular tourist experience is riding the Ghan (short for "Afghan Express"), a passenger train that travels through spectacular scenery between the cities of Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin.

Facts about the Northern Territory

Nickname The Territory

Area 1,349,129 sq km (520,902 sq miles) Rank 3rd

Highest point Mount Zeil 1531 m (5023 ft)

Population 245,980 Rank 8th

Capital Darwin pop. 78,925

Other major towns Palmerston (pop. 30,098), Alice Springs (28,449), Litchfield (20,039), Katherine (10,355)

Territory mammal Red kangaroo

Territory bird Wedge-tailed eagle

Territory flower Sturt's desert rose