Landscapes
This region includes the coastal country and woodlands
stretching from Darwin to Kakadu National Park in the Top End of
the Northern Territory. It also includes the coastal region
south-west of Darwin and the spectacular escarpment country of
Kakadu-Katherine Gorge-western Arnhem Land.
Mining and tourism
Covering slightly more than 100,000 square kilometres, this is
one of the more densely populous regions of the tropical savannas
and holds its second-largest city, Darwin. Major income-generating
industries are mining and tourism and major land uses are
pastoralism and nature reserves.
Climate
The Darwin-Kakadu area is one of the most northerly regions of
the tropical savannas where periodic summer storms and tropical
cyclones deliver most of the annual rain. Average temperatures
inland at this time are 36oC with a cooler
33o C or less along the coast. The dry winter season is
generally rainless with mild to warm days. Average minimum
temperatures in July are between 15 and 21o C with the
cooler temperatures being experienced inland and to the south.
Biogeographic Region
This area is defined by the biogeographic regions Pine Creek
Arnhem, Daly basin and the western part of Top End Coastal. For
more information on the biogeographic regions on this map go to
ERIN's Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA),
website link below.
Population snapshot
|
Town
|
Total Population
|
Indigenous Population
|
|
Darwin
|
71,347
|
5957
|
|
Palmerston (East Arm)
|
20,570
|
2229
|
|
Katherine
|
6,719
|
1568
|
|
Jabiru
|
1775
|
236
|
|
Table is based on 2001
Census Urban Centre and Locality figures
|
The population figures above are based on the Australian Bureau
of Statistics census of 2001 which is conducted in early August.
These more standardised Urban Centres and Localities figures
replace earlier ones on this site based on Statistical Local Areas
and Census Collection Districts.
The population of the whole region is reasonably high for such a
small area at over 100,000 and is concentrated in the
north-west corner, around Darwin and Palmerston. A major factor in
the high growth rate for Palmerston recently has been the influx of
Armed Forces personnel. The populations for the other major
towns are also listed.
Land use
The major land uses in terms of area are Aboriginal land,
pastoralism and nature reserves. This region has a relatively high
proportion of nature reserve area because of the large size of
Kakadu National Park.
For more detailed information on this region click on the topic
menu above left
