Gulf Country

Infobox Australian Place | type = region
name = Gulf Country
state = Queensland, Northern Territory


caption = North West Queensland is also referred to as the Gulf Country
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stategov = Electoral district of Mount Isa
fedgov = Division of Kennedy
lga = Burke Shire Council
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The Gulf Country is the name given to the region surrounding the Gulf of Carpentaria in north western Queensland and eastern Northern Territory. The region is also called the Gulf Savannah. To the west is Arnhem Land and the Top End of the Northern Territory. To the east is the Cape York Peninsula.

The landscape is generally flat and low-lying tropical savannah. The main land use in the region is for and mining. Pastoral grazing is widespread.

Climate

The climate is hot and humid with two seasons per year. The dry season lasts from about April until November and is characterized by very dry southeast to east winds, generated by migratory winter high pressure systems to the south. The wet season lasts from December to March. Most of a year's rainfall is compressed into these months, and during this period, many low-lying areas are flooded. The Gulf is also a breeding ground for cyclones during the period between November and April.

In many other parts of Australia, there are dramatic climatic transitions over fairly short distances. The Great Dividing Range, which parallels the entire east and south-east coast, is responsible for the typical pattern of a well-watered coastal strip, a fairly narrow band of mountains, and then a vast, inward-draining plain that receives little rainfall. In the Gulf Country, however, there are no mountains to restrict rainfall to the coastal band and the transition from the profuse tropical growth of the seaside areas to the arid scrubs of central Australia is gradual.

In September and October the Morning Glory Cloud appears in the Southern Gulf. The best vantage point to see this phenomenon is in the Burketown area shortly after dawn.

History

The first known European explorer to visit the region was the Dutch Willem Janszoon "(whose name is also written as Jansz)" in his 1606 voyage. His fellow countryman Jan Carstenszoon (or "Carstensz.") visited in 1623 and named the gulf in honor of Pieter de Carpentier, at that time Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. Abel Tasman also explored the coast in 1644. The region was later explored and charted by Matthew Flinders in 1802 and 1803.

The first overland explorer in the area was the Prussian Ludwig Leichhardt who traversed the area in 1844 and 1845. He was followed by Augustus Gregory of the North Australian Expedition in 1856, and then Burke and Wills in 1861. John McKinlay, Frederick Walker and William Landsborough lead separate search parties into the Gulf looking for Burke and Wills in 1861 and 1862.

Features

The western expanses of the Gulf Country are protected within the Boodjamulla National Park. Also located here is the World Heritage fossil finds at Riversleigh.

The region is crossed by the Savannah Way highway.

Major rivers

* Top End
** Roper River
*** Wilton River
* Gulf Country
** Cox River
** Calvert River
** Leichhardt River
** McArthur River
** Flinders River
** Norman River
** Gilbert River
* Cape York Peninsula
** Smithburne River
** Mitchell River
*** Alice River
** Staaten River
** Mission River
** Wenlock River
** Archer River

ee also

*Regions of Queensland

References

External links

* [http://www.savanna.org.au/qld/gp/gpgrazing.html Grazing in the Gulf Country] Savanna Explorer